East Brother Island Light facts for kids
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| Front view of lighthouse. | |
 East Brother Island Light
Location in California
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| Location | East Brother Island San Pablo Bay San Francisco Bay Area California United States |
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| Coordinates | 37°57′48″N 122°26′01″W / 37.963233°N 122.433643°W |
| Year first constructed | 1874 |
| Automated | 1969 |
| Construction | wooden tower |
| Tower shape | square tower with balcony and lantern attached to a 2-story keeper's house |
| Markings / pattern | ochre tower with white trim, red lantern |
| Height | 48 feet (15 m) |
| Focal height | 61 feet (19 m) |
| Original lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | FA 251 |
| Characteristic | Fl W 5s. |
| Fog signal | blast every 30s. |
| Admiralty number | G4215 |
| ARLHS number | USA-258 |
| USCG number | 6-5865 |
The East Brother Island Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse found on East Brother Island. This small island is in San Rafael Bay, close to Richmond, California. The lighthouse helps guide ships safely into San Pablo Bay from the larger San Francisco Bay.
It was built in 1874 and became automated in 1969. This means machines took over the work of the lighthouse keepers. The lighthouse was designed by Paul J. Pelz. He also designed other lighthouses that look similar, like the one at Point Fermin in California. Today, the old house where the lighthouse keepers lived is a bed and breakfast. People can stay there overnight!
Contents
History of the Lighthouse
The United States government knew a lighthouse was needed in this area. But they could not find land on the mainland for a good price. So, they decided to use East Brother Island, which they already owned.
Building the Lighthouse
Workers used large explosions to flatten part of the island. Then, they built the two-story house for the lighthouse keepers. The lighthouse tower was attached to this house. A separate building for the fog signal was also built. The light first shone on March 1, 1874.
The keeper's house is a two-story Victorian-style building. It sits on a rock that was blasted flat. This area is about 1 acre in size. There was also a house for an assistant keeper, an equipment building, and a water tank. A large cistern was dug 30 feet deep. It could hold 50,000 gallons of rainwater.
Life of a Lighthouse Keeper
Two of the most famous lighthouse keepers were John Stenmark and Willard Miller. Each of them worked at the lighthouse for twenty years. This was longer than any other keepers.
John Stenmark was from Sweden. He started working for the lighthouse service when he was twenty. He was known for being brave during a boating accident. In 1894, he became the keeper at East Brother. He lived at the station with his wife and four children.
Willard Miller started his time at East Brother in 1922. While he was there, the light was improved. It got a new Fresnel lens and a brighter 500-watt bulb. The old steam fog signal was also changed. It became a compressor-driven diaphone, which is a type of loud horn. On March 4, 1940, a serious accident happened. A fire destroyed the island's dock and boathouse, along with four boats.
Saving the Lighthouse
The United States Lighthouse Service managed the lighthouse until 1939. Then, it joined with the United States Coast Guard. Lighthouse keepers often lived there with their large families. They had to light the lamp's wick and keep it filled with whale oil. On foggy nights, they had to start up steam boilers to power the foghorns. This meant hauling coal up a long ramp from their boat.
After the lighthouse became automated, the government wanted to tear down the keeper's house. But people living nearby protested. They did not want the historic buildings destroyed. Because of these protests, the buildings were saved. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
After some years of not being cared for, a group was formed in 1979. This group, called East Brother Light Station, Inc., wanted to restore the landmark. Money from the government, private donations, and volunteer work helped fix up the buildings on the island. These buildings are now used as the bed-and-breakfast.
Images for kids
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East Brother Light in 2013
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The light as seen from the deck of the World War II Liberty Ship SS Jeremiah O'Brien
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Panoramic view of East Brother Island Light Station
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