Point Bonita Lighthouse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Point Bonita Lighthouse

Point Bonita Lighthouse in 2018
Point Bonita Lighthouse Location in California
Location	San Francisco Bay California United States
Coordinates	37°48′56″N 122°31′46″W / 37.815614°N 122.529578°W / 37.815614; -122.529578
Year first constructed	1855 (first)
Year first lit	1877 (current)
Automated	1980
Foundation	masonry basement
Construction	brick and cement building
Tower shape	hexagonal tower with balcony and lantern on fog signal building
Markings / pattern	white tower, black lantern dome
Height	33 ft (10 m)
Focal height	124 ft (38 m)
Original lens	Second order Fresnel lens
Current lens	Second order Fresnel lens
Range	18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi)
Characteristic	Oc W 4s.
Fog signal	2 blasts every 30s
Admiralty number	G4052
ARLHS number	USA-618
USCG number	6-0370

The Point Bonita Lighthouse stands proudly at the entrance of San Francisco Bay. You can find it in the Marin Headlands, close to Sausalito, California. This special lighthouse was the very last one on California's coast to have people living and working there. It became a protected historic place in 1991.

Building the Point Bonita Lighthouse

During the California Gold Rush, over 300 boats crashed near the Golden Gate. This showed how much a lighthouse was needed to guide ships safely.

First Lighthouse Design

The first Point Bonita Lighthouse was built in 1855. It was a brick tower, about 56-foot (17 m) tall. It stood very high, about 306 feet (93 m) above the sea. It had a special light called a Fresnel lens.

However, this first lighthouse was too high. The West Coast often has thick, high fog. This fog would cover the light, making it impossible for ships to see.

Moving the Lighthouse and New Features

Because of the fog problem, the lighthouse was moved in 1877. It was placed at a lower spot, about 124 feet (38 m) above sea level. To reach this new spot, workers had to carve a 118-foot (36 m) long tunnel by hand through hard rock.

The Point Bonita Lighthouse was also the first on the West Coast to have a fog signal. This signal was a large 24-pounder siege gun, used to make loud noises to warn ships in foggy weather.

The Unique Suspension Bridge

Until 1940, people could reach the lighthouse by a simple trail. But over time, erosion caused the trail to fall into the sea. A wooden walkway was put in its place. When that became unsafe, a suspension bridge was built in 1954. This bridge is very special because it's the only way to reach a lighthouse in the United States.

The suspension bridge needed repairs in 1979 and again in 1991. The metal parts of the bridge started to rust because of the sea spray. So, on January 6, 2010, the bridge was closed to visitors. A brand new bridge was built and opened on April 13, 2012.

The new bridge cost a little over $1 million to build. It is made from strong tropical hardwood with steel cables and attachments. Today, the United States Coast Guard takes care of the light and fog signal at the lighthouse.

Visiting the Lighthouse

The Point Bonita Lighthouse is open to the public during certain hours. You can visit on Sundays and Mondays from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. You can also join special ranger-led sunset hikes, but you need to sign up for those. At other times, a metal door at the tunnel's entrance blocks access to the bridge.

Gallery

Point Bonita Lighthouse in Pop Culture

The Point Bonita Lighthouse has appeared in different shows and games.

Television Appearances

On the TV show Murder in the First, the lighthouse was featured. It was a setting at the end of an episode called "Schizofrenzy" in the second season.

Video Game Appearances

You can also find the lighthouse in the video game Watch Dogs 2.

Images for kids

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