On Saturday, July 20 at 5 p.m. Michael Combs  will present "A 49er Looks Back" as part of the Lighthouse Lecture Series.  

Michael's family moved to Point Arena in 1949 not long after his seventh birthday. The history of Point Arena was under 100 years old at that time but already included lumber booms and busts - the last driven by the post-WW II construction boom - Prohibition rum running, illegal gambling, hot-springs resort, “dog-hole” schooners, and feats of engineering that enabled lumbering.

Many of his friends and acquaintances were part of Point Arena life before 1900 and he’ll attempt to tell some of their stories and place them in the context of past events. Since he participated in more recent history - 1949 to 1969 – lived in an abandoned high school building, worked in sawmills, hayfields, drove a work horse, helped build our house, milked a cow, he’ll try to add a flavor of small-time life lived on what he half seriously called the frontier of civilization.

After graduation from Point Arena High in 1960, Michael went to Humboldt State a year, Santa Rosa Junior College a year, then the Air Force for 21.5 years – married his high school sweetheart Marilynn (they had three sons) - and attended five other colleges while in the Air Force. He started as a Russian linguist, then became a Budget and Finance Officer and Internal Auditor. After 14 moves, an MBA and CPA, he retired from the Air Force and worked at Lockheed, Sunnyvale, for ten years, then on to some other jobs including Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, and Nummi, Fremont. Marilynn died of breast cancer in 1988 just after their 25th anniversary, and he chose his current wife Alice from a book and they married in 1989. He retired in 1998 and he and Alice moved to Gualala, which they love over all places, while traveling quite a bit and loving coming home. Every day they play ball with their doggie Radar on Cook’s Beach and remind themselves not to take their wonderful lives here on the coast for granted.

Admission is $5 per person.

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Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

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"But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Archived Test

Saturday, July 29 - Gates open 8 p.m., Tour around 8:30 p.m.



Come experience a spectacular night time view . . .

. . . from atop the Point Arena Lighthouse. Enjoy a panoramic view of the sea and coast from the lantern room at the top of the Tower, and if the weather cooperates it will be illuminated by the full moon! Our docents and guides will help you experience what it was like to be a Lighthouse Keeper and climb the Tower at night. They will guide you on your journey into the past and explain the unique history of this historic landmark, the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast. Champagne, sparkling juice and sweet and savory snacks will be served as part of the tour, and you get to take home an etched Point Arena Lighthouse champagne flute as a souvenir of this unique experience!



According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac Some Native American tribes in what is now the northeastern United States called the August full Moon the Sturgeon Moon because they knew that the sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this full moon. Other tribes called August’s full moon the Full Green Corn Moon signaling that the corn was nearly ready for harvest. Other examples for August are Wheat Cut Moon (San Ildefonso, and San Juan), Moon When All Things Ripen (Dakota Sioux) and Blueberry Moon (Ojibwe).



All proceeds go toward the support and maintenance of the Lighthouse Tower, Museum and grounds. Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. thank you for your generous support. Tickets are $50 each.



Reservations must be made by phone at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 or in person no later than 3:30 p.m. three (3) days 

 the date of the event. We require a minimum of eight (8) reservations to conduct the tour, and there is a limit of 20 guests per tour. If we reach the minimum prior to three (3) days before the event we will accept additional reservations (up to a total of 20 guests) until the day of the tour. We do not accept walk ins unless we have not reached the maximum number of guests.



 No refunds given if you cancel your reservation three days or less before the event. Tours will be cancelled if less than eight (8) guests sign up prior to three (3) days before the tour. 

You will receive a full refund if the event is cancelled. 

Please call our Reservation Desk at at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 three (3) days prior to the tour to confirm the event is happening as scheduled.

(almost) Full Sturgeon Moon Night Tour

The current Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit features photography by Rod Whaley and jewelry by Ling-Yen Jones.  The exhibit will display from August 5 through October 31.  Rod’s exhibit includes photographs printed on silver gelatin, cotton paper and stretched canvas selected from two of his previous exhibits in other galleries, 

 from 2005.  Unframed color prints of Point Arena Lighthouse and surrounding landscapes will be also be available during the exhibit. The exhibit focuses on both California and Oregon natural environments Rod shot from 1998 to 2022.



 is of abstract, minimalist and straightforward photography.  Three 30” x 40” stretched/framed canvas will be arranged as window shades to bring natural light luminescence and vibrancy to each piece.


“

 photographed in black and white at South Yuba River State Park, Nevada County will be shown along with 5”x7” note cards.

 are living sculptures photographed from tidal pools along Oregon and California coastlines, created for the first time an elongated 12ft. x 13in. color print on canvas tailored for The Whale Watch Room Gallery.

 is a segment that delivers Rod’s fascination with natures wonderment.  The opening of a rose, spiral twist of Calla Lilly, and “The Unfolding” of Agave, the show print origin.




My “day job” never gained traction to a guided or planned career in photography, rather an unknown journey giving time and space to seek my own study.  As I peered through the lens with intent to capture my “wabi-sabi” I found connection in nature and industrial design where line, shadow and shape bring forth sculpture.  I am inspired from works of Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Weston and Minor White.




Rod Whaley hails from Tillamook County Oregon.  Born in 1953 in Detroit, Michigan he earned a BA Degree in Humanities/Communications from Florida Atlantic University in 1974.  His artistic side was put to good use when he was a Technical Illustrator/Photographer for Boeing Airplane Company from 1980 to 1984 and a Network Design/Publications Author for Boeing Computer Services from 1986 to 1990.  He then spent 1990 to 2015 in Telecommunications Engineering/Operations, Pacific Telecom Cable, Alaska Communications, Southern Cross Network.  Rod spent almost 2 years during COVID working on a project in Manchester CA and during that time he stayed in Assistant Keeper’s House 3 at the Lighthouse, joined occasionally by his wife Julie, and enjoyed taking pictures of the Mendocino coast to add to his portfolio.

Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit - Aug thru Oct

Sara Bogard presents "Seals In the Ebb and Flow - Harbor Seals and other Species of the Point Arena Lighthouse/Stornetta Public Lands."


Lighthouse Lecture Series Presentation on September 16th, 2023 at 4 p.m.




This Lecture Presentation gives an ongoing glimpse in 2023 of the rich diversity of life and habitat seen at the Point Arena Lighthouse and adjacent Stornetta Public Lands. The presentation will share the lives and critical habitat of the animals who reside and migrate through this shoreline and bluff. From her weekly surveys and monitoring, Sara will present data she has gathered on the resident Harbor Seals, birds and other species over the past year. During the pupping season from March through June, her highest pup count was 29 pups on June 8th and the high count of adults and immature was 226 on July 6th. Observations of Harbor Seal mother and pup interaction reveal a unique bond across many species. From this data and information, patterns and cycles of birth, nesting and migration emerge to make these bluff tops a spectacular place to view and connect with the natural world.







Sara is an Ocean Conservationist. She is a citizen scientist and volunteer for:


-  The Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, Beach Watch Program
-  The California Central Regional Harbor seal Monitoring and Inventory Program
-  The Marine Mammal Center
-  The Sea Ranch Harbor Seal Docent Program
-  Naked Whale Research


As a citizen scientist volunteer for the GFNMS Beach Watch Program, she surveys several area beaches and bluffs, counting live species on both, and additionally counts and takes measurement of dead species on beach surveys. These surveys are done with teams of volunteers to collect and report data throughout the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.  She gathers weekly data on the Harbor Seal population at the Point Arena Lighthouse/Stornetta Bluff and, for the California Central Regional Harbor Seal Monitor and Inventory Program, during the pupping/molting season.

Her volunteer work for The Marine Mammal Center includes assessment, monitoring and rescue of marine mammals. In addition, she takes on the role of a Harbor Seal Docent for The Sea Ranch, during the pupping season and conducts other ongoing pinniped surveys in Mendocino County, California.  She also volunteers for Naked Whale Research, which focuses on tracking Killer Whales and other cetaceans along the Mendonoma Coast. Her goal is to collect this data and share her observations to promote the health and sustainability of pinniped populations in Northern California and bring public awareness to the effects of human and current environmental factors which affect these species.

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Sara Bogard

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with an (almost) Full Cold Moon Night Tour on Saturday, December 14th.  Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and the tour starts around 5 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course!  An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. The tour is limited to 20 guests, so reservations are recommended in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. If the tour is canceled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

December’s full Moon is most commonly known as the Cold Moon—a Mohawk name that conveys the frigid conditions of this time of year when cold weather truly begins to grip us. This full Moon has also been called the Long Night Moon (Mohican), as it rises during the “longest” nights of the year, near the December winter solstice. this name is doubly fitting because December’s full Moon shines above the horizon for a more extended period than most full Moons.

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon and (almost) Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn't fall on that day.  Check our 

 for dates and times of all Lighthouse events.  For more information or to make a reservation, call the Lighthouse at 707-882-2809, ext. 1 at least three days before the date of the tour.

(almost) Full Cold Moon Night Tour

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with an (almost) Full Beaver Moon Night Tour on Saturday, November 16.  Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the tour starts around 6 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course!  An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. The tour is limited to 20 guests, so reservations are recommended in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. If the tour is canceled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

For decades, the Almanac has referenced the monthly full Moons with names tied to early Native American, Colonial American, and European folklore. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred and through all of the Moon’s phases—not only the full Moon. Why the “Beaver” Moon? This is the time of year when beavers begin to take shelter in their lodges, having laid up sufficient food stores for the long winter ahead. During the fur trade in North America, it was also the season to trap beavers for their thick, winter-ready pelts.

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon and (almost) Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn't fall on that day.  Check our 

(almost) Full Beaver Moon Night Tour

On Saturday, November 16 at 4 p.m. Shari Goforth will present "Hungry, Hungry Giants: Gray Whale Survival Strategies in the Changing Ocean Conditions of the Pacific Northwest Coast."

Gray whales, Eschrichtius robustus, were nearly forced into extinction by whaling. With the ban on whaling and marine mammal protections, Pacific Northwest Coast gray whales made a strong comeback. E. robustus’ numbers rose to nearly 27,000 individuals and they were, as their name suggests, robust. Since 2019, though, the number of dead gray whales washing up along the west coast has been elevated. Scientists at NOAA, the agency who monitors the gray whale population, declared an end to the Unusual Mortality Event, but the gray whales are still in troubled waters.

Come spend time with us at the beautiful Pt. Arena Lighthouse where we will try to unravel the mystery of the shrinking gray whale population and explore some of the unique strategies these charismatic gray whales are adopting to survive in these changing times.

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Shari Goforth

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with an (almost) Full Hunter's Moon Night Tour on Saturday, October 19.  Gates open at 7 p.m. and the tour starts around 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course!  An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. The tour is limited to 20 guests, so reservations are recommended in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. If the tour is canceled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

According to the Old Farmer’s it is believed that this full moon came to be called the full Hunter’s Moon because it signaled the time to go hunting in preparation for the cold winter ahead. Animals are beginning to fatten up ahead of winter, and since the farmers had recently cleaned out their fields under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily see the deer and other animals that had come out to root through the remaining scraps (as well as the foxes and wolves that had come out to prey on them). The earliest use of the term “Hunter’s Moon,” cited in the Oxford English Dictionary, is from 1710. Some sources suggest that other names for the Hunter’s Moon are the Sanguine or Blood Moon, either associated with the blood from hunting or the color of the changing autumn leaves. The names of the moon are most often related to natural signs of the season or to activities that were done at this time of year. Some other Native American names for the October full moon include Drying Rice Moon (Dakota), Falling Leaves Moon (Anishinaabe), Freezing Moon (Ojibwe), Ice Moon (Haida) and Migrating Moon (Cree).

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon and (almost) Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn't fall on that day.  Check our 

(almost) Full Hunter's Moon Night Tour

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with an (almost)  Full Sturgeon Moon Night Tour on Saturday, September 14.  Gates open at 7 p.m. and the tour starts around 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course!  An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. The tour is limited to 20 guests, so reservations are recommended in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. If the tour is canceled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

The Harvest Moon is the moon that falls near the autumnal equinox. This full Moon provides the most light at the time when it’s needed most—to complete the harvest. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac full moon names were used by early Colonial Americans who learned the names from the local Native Americans. Indigenous people did not record time by using the months of the Julian or Gregorian calendar. Many tribes kept track of time by observing the seasons and lunar months, although there was much variability. The September full moon is also called the Full Corn Moon because it traditionally corresponds with the time of harvesting corn. It is also called the Barley Moon because this is the time to harvest and thresh ripened barley. Some other traditional September Full Moon names used by Native Americans include “Moon When the Plums Are Scarlet” (Lakota Sioux), “Moon When the Deer Paw the Earth” (Omaha Native Americans), and “Moon When the Calves Grow Hair” (Sioux Native Americans).

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon and (almost) Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn't fall on that day.  Check our 

(almost) Full Harvest Moon Night Tour

Mark Hancock presents "Oh, The Things I've Seen!" as part of the Lighthouse Lecture Series on Saturday, August 17 at 5 p.m.

In his 9 years as Executive Director of the Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. (PALKI) Mark has seen and experienced some of the most beautiful, unique, mysterious, awe-inspiring and entertaining sights, sounds and interactions at the Light Station.  Join him for this presentation of his favorite things he has seen during his time on the Station and hear the stories behind them.  People, flora and fauna, weather, atmospheric anomalies, full moons, storms, unique visitors (human, animal and mechanical) will all be part of this fascinating look back at the amazing sights you will see only at the 154 year old Light Station!

Mark has had a varied 49 year career in the working world, with a wide variety of positions in building maintenance, customer service, software application development and implementation, sales, quality assurance and other roles in both large corporations and small software startups. Prior to moving to Gualala full time in 2011 he worked at Crocker Bank, Pacific Bell (where he met his wife of 39 years, Laverne), software startups Salestar and Spear Technologies, and Wells Fargo Bank Internet. After moving to Gualala he became part of the coastal community by joining Gualala Arts as its Publicity Coordinator, a position he enjoyed for 4 years. When the Point Arena Lighthouse Keeper’s Inc. were looking for a new Executive Director in 2015 he applied and has been happily doing that job ever since.

Admission is $5 per person.

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Mark Hancock

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with an (almost)  Full Sturgeon Moon Night Tour on Saturday, August 17.  Gates open at 7:30 p.m. and the tour starts around 8 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course!  An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. The tour is limited to 20 guests, so reservations are recommended in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. If the tour is canceled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac Some Native American tribes in what is now the northeastern United States called the August full Moon the Sturgeon Moon because they knew that the sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this full moon. Other tribes called August’s full moon the Full Green Corn Moon signaling that the corn was nearly ready for harvest. Other examples for August are Wheat Cut Moon (San Ildefonso, and San Juan), Moon When All Things Ripen (Dakota Sioux), and Blueberry Moon (Ojibwe).

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon and (almost) Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn't fall on that day.  Check our 

The Point Arena Lighthouse will celebrate National Lighthouse Day on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All visitors will enjoy free admission to the 

. Tower Tours will be available to guests 4 years and older for $5 per person. 

 was originally established in 1989 to “honor the beacon of light that, for hundreds of years, symbolized safety and security for ships and boats at sea,” according to the 

. Point Arena Lighthouse joins hundreds of lighthouses across America on August 7 in celebrating the day by offering free admission and special events.


More information is available by calling the Lighthouse at 877-725-4448, ext. 1, or 707-882-2809, ext. 1.

National Lighthouse Day

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with an (almost)  Full Buck Moon Night Tour on Saturday, July 20.  Gates open at 8:30 p.m. and the tour starts around 9 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course!  An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. The tour is limited to 20 guests, so reservations are recommended in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. If the tour is canceled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the July full moon is called the Buck Moon since at this time, a buck’s antlers are in full growth mode. This full moon was also known as the Thunder Moon because thunderstorms are so frequent during this month. Other Native American tribes had their own names for this full moon including Ripe Corn Moon (Cherokee), Middle of Summer Moon (Ponca), and Moon When Limbs of Trees Are Broken by Fruit (Zuni).

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon and (almost) Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn't fall on that day.  Check our 

 for dates and times of all Lighthouse events.  For more information or to make a reservation, call the Lighthouse at 707-882-2809, ext. 1 at least three days before the date of the tour.


(almost) Full Buck Moon Night Tour

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with a Full Strawberry Moon Night Tour on Friday, June 21.  Gates open at 8:30 p.m. and the tour starts around 9 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course!  An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. The tour is limited to 20 guests, so reservations are recommended in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. If the tour is canceled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac this Full Moon got its name from the Algonquin tribes in eastern North America who knew it as a signal to gather the ripening fruit of wild strawberries. It has also been known as the Honey Moon, Mead Moon, and the Full Rose Moon in Europe.

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon and (almost) Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn't fall on that day.  Check our 

Full Strawberry Moon Night Tour

Stuart McDowell presents "Bill Owens: The Last Lighthouse Keeper" as part of the Lighthouse Lecture Series on Saturday, June 15 at 5 p.m.

Bill Owens was the last of a generation of light keepers along the California Coast before automation rendered them unnecessary. His career with the United States Lighthouse Service and Coast Guard spanned from 1931-1963 at four light stations from Point Conception, Point Sur, Point Arena, and finally to Point Cabrillo.

In 1982, McDowell and his wife interviewed Bill and Isabel Owens for three days. Stuart, full of questions, found in Owens a willing storyteller as he described his experiences at the lights across four decades: the Great Depression, World War II, plane crashes, and storms.

Owens had a wry wit about him that surfaced frequently, a stubbornness that was more endearing than annoying, and a pride in his thirty-two years of service that was obvious. He expressed them all as he told the McDowells about the operation of the lights, earthquakes, rum runners, Japanese submarines—and the less exciting, but more enduring, job of him and Isabel raising a family of six daughters at the stations, one season of life transitioning to another.

In writing 

, McDowell draws from those days of face-to-face interviews with Bill and Isabel—and later with their daughters—to craft a riveting portrait of a man, a family, and an era of lighthouse men never to be seen again.

Joining Stuart for Q & A at the end of the lecture will be Diana Owens Brown, one of the Owens daughters that grew up on the Light Station.  Admission is $5 per person. 

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Stuart McDowell

The Point Arena Lighthouse will welcome the spirit of Madam Kate, the senior madam of the whorehouses of the town of Mendocino 140 years ago and in the company of her bodyguard the “Professor,” on June 8 at 7:30 p.m. Share a glass of champagne, wine, a Lighthouse Mimosa or sparkling juices and water and various sweet and savory treats while Madam Kate shares true tales of the “soiled doves” on the Mendocino Coast from years past.

Madam Kate, in the physical form of local historian Katy Tahja, is a lighthouse fan and is coming to investigate our Light and regale you with ribald tales of the evenings of leisure afforded the menfolk of Mendocino and its surrounding area by the soiled doves under Madam Kate’s care. Enjoy her fascinating tales of days gone by, laugh at her jokes, hear newspaper accounts read by the “Professor” of misdeeds that occurred, and see how she likes the Point Arena Light. Cap off the evening by climbing to the top of the Lighthouse Tower to enjoy an unparalleled nighttime view from the tallest Lighthouse on the Pacific coast. To make the evening even more memorable you will take home your etched Point Arena Lighthouse champagne flute or wine glass at the end of the evening.

Madam Kate has raised thousands of dollars over 20 years for museums and historical societies portraying an aged business woman with an unusual line of work. It will be an evening you won’t forget! Tickets to this unique adults only evening are $75 per person and advance reservations are strongly encouraged. The evening will be limited to 20 patrons only, so make your reservation early by calling the Lighthouse at (707) 882-2809, ext. 1 between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily.

An Evening with Madam Kate

The upcoming Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit 

"The Point-Arena Stornetta Lands and Beyond"

 features photography by Scott Chieffo and jewelry by Ling-Yen Jones. The exhibit will display from May 18 through September 2.

In the approximately 20 years that he has been living on the Southern Mendocino County Coast, Scott has developed an intimate photographic relationship with its unique landscape. His images capture the subtle beauty of the coast and forests with a highly unique, “painterly” style that emphasizes the quiet solitude of these landscapes.

The focus for this exhibit will be some of Scott’s favorite images captured on The Point Arena-Stornetta Lands over the past several years. The dramatic coastal bluffs, sea arches, and incredible views found here offer seemingly unlimited photo opportunities for both serious and
casual photographers alike. The omnipresent Point Arena Lighthouse as a backdrop only adds to the magic of this extraordinary landscape.

In addition, Scott will be showing a small collection of images taken in other locations along the varied and beautiful coastline of Mendocino County, from Bowling Ball Beach north to Mendocino.

While the vast majority of his artistry takes place in the field, Scott’s technical mastery in the “digital darkroom” allows him to optimize each image digitally so that the finished print matches his original artistic vision. Unlike traditional printing methods, the metal prints Scott is showing for this exhibit are created by infusing dyes directly into a specially-coated sheet of aluminum. This technique creates a vibrant and durable print that is resistant to fading, moisture, and fingerprints.

For the past several years, Scott has shown his fine art photography prints at galleries and exhibits along the West Coast. His work is represented in private collections throughout the United States and beyond. Some of his earliest images taken on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands were used in the public relations effort to eventually have these lands added as the first
mainland-based unit of the California Coastal National Monument in 2014.

Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit - Scott Chieffo

The Point Arena Lighthouse joins the celebration of the 10th anniversary of its neighbor, the Point Arena – Stornetta Unit, being added to the California Coastal National Monument as part of the Celebrate the Coast event on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

 The Lighthouse will be hosting several information/activity tables including Mendonoma Whale & Seal Study, Marine Mammal Center (with its rescue truck), Acorn Partners in Education, Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries and the California Native Plant Society (CNPS). The Farm will be offering its cooked-to-order waffles (available as gluten-free), organic sweet and savory baked goods and Little Green Bean Point Arena Lighthouse blend organic free trade coffee for purchase. For the kids and kids at heart, Acorn Partners in Education will be offering “Trail Bingo” cards, fill them out by roaming the Light Station and the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands and get a prize. At 11:30 a.m. they will lead a family-friendly walk on the Lands. The Arena Cove Stewards will be offering their famous locally caught fish tacos from noon until sold out. From 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., the Lighthouse will host a special celebration of the 10th anniversary with guest speakers Congressman Jared Huffman, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California acting State Director Gordon Toevs, Friends of Point Arena-Stornetta Lands President Leslie Dahlhoff and other honored guests instrumental in protecting these special lands. Celebratory cupcakes from Franny’s Cup & Saucer, donated by the Point Arena Merchants Association (PAMA) will be available to all attendees after the celebration. At 2:30 p.m. the Dorothy King Young Chapter of the CNPS will lead a wildflower walk. Bokeya Pomo tribe member Isaac Rios and BLM Archaeologist Chris Lloyd will lead a native culture and local archaeology walk.

Admission to the Light Station and all events are free to all, and Tower Tours of the 115’ tall Lighthouse Tower are available for $5 per person 4 years old and over. A shuttle service will run from 9:30 to 4:30 linking City Hall, the College Field Station, the Discovery Trail’s northern entrance, and the Lighthouse. Park at City Hall or the Lighthouse and take the bus!

The BLM Ukiah Field Office is hosting the event in partnership with the Friends of Point Arena-Stornetta Lands, Point Arena Lighthouse, City of Point Arena, and Mendocino College. Point Arena-Stornetta public lands was the first onshore unit of the California Coastal National Monument. In 2014, the California Coastal National Monument Gateway Partners successfully advocated for these public lands to be added to the Monument.

Festivities begin at 10 a.m. at Point Arena City Hall, 451 School Street, Point Arena, CA. A shuttle will be running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., allowing participants to walk the entirety of the five-mile trail in one direction and get a ride back to their vehicle. More details can be found on the BLM website

Celebrate the Coast

The Point Arena Lighthouse, first lit May 1st, 1870. Its brick and mortar tower featured ornate iron balcony supports and a large Keepers' residence with enough space to house four Light Keeper families. In April of 1906, a devastating earthquake struck the tower. The tower was damaged beyond repair and had to be completely deconstructed

The United States Lighthouse Service contracted with a San Francisco based company to build a new Lighthouse that could withstand any future earthquakes. The company built factory smokestacks, which accounts for the final design for the current Point Arena Lighthouse. The new design featured steel reinforcement rods encased in concrete, and was the first lighthouse to be built in this manner.

The new Lighthouse began operation on September 15, 1908, nearly 29 months after the quake. It stands 115 feet tall, and features a 1st Order Fresnel Lens, seven feet in diameter and weighing 4,700 pounds. The lens is made up of 258 hand-ground glass prisms all focused toward three sets of double bulls eyes. It is these bulls eyes that gave the Point Arena Lighthouse its unique “light signature” of two flashes every six seconds.

In 1984, a nonprofit organization called the Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. acquired the Light Station as part of a 25 year land lease from the Coast Guard and the Department of Transportation. In November of 2000, the nonprofit group became the official owners of the property due to their diligent historic preservation and educational efforts.

Join us Wednesday, May 1, 2024 to celebrate 154 years of lighting the way on the Pacific Coast with free admission to the Indoor Museum, Outdoor Museum and Light Station Store and free tower tours 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

154th Anniversary

The Point Arena Lighthouse is thrilled to present its annual Wind & Whale Celebration on Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission to the Light Station Indoor and Outdoor Museums is free, Tower Tours are available for guests 4 and over for $5 per person. Come stroll the 23 acres of grounds and watch the ocean for migrating gray whales, and wind and weather permitting the Berkeley Kite Wranglers will be flying their huge and colorful kites overhead. Scott & Tree Mercer of the Mendonoma Whale & Seal Study will be on hand to answer questions about the marine mammals that frequent our coast. Check out the Whale Trail interpretive panel next to the California Native Plant garden that showcases the marine mammals that frequent the waters that surround the Light Station. The Light Station Store will be offering sale prices on kites, whale related gifts and other items. Waffles, including gluten-free, and assorted organic baked goods from THE FARM will be available for purchase in the Fog Signal Building Museum. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road just north of Point Arena.

Formed at the turn of the Millennium, the Berkeley Kite Wranglers fly a collection of kites that contains nearly 30,000 square feet of giant creature kites - the largest of their kind in the world. The giant octopus kites have been a particularly popular sight in past years.   Each one is 20 feet wide and nearly 100 feet long. The pod, or ‘Octopile’ as the team likes to call it, flies in perfect formation. They have previously flown giant blue, humpback and killer whale kites as well as gecko, fish and cat kites. The Wranglers will fly from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Bring your own kite to fly or purchase one from a large selection of kites on sale in the Light Station Store, which will also have several whale themed items on sale.

The northern migration of the gray whales will be featuring the mothers and recently born calves making their way north from the birthing lagoons in Baja California back to their summer feeding grounds in the Bering Sea near Alaska. Watch these graceful gentle giants swim past the Light Station peninsula from the grounds or the Whale Watch Room in the Fog Signal Building, and chat with the Mercers about the details of this amazing migration.

The Wind & Whale Celebration is part of the Point Arena Merchants Association (PAMA) 

 which will be taking place in and around downtown Point Arena from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Special events, food, sales, live music and more will be offered throughout Point Arena. A free shuttle bus will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with several stops throughout the town and out to the Lighthouse.

For the most recent information on Lighthouse events call (707) 882-2809 ext. 1 or email Info.PALight@gmail.com

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Michael Combs

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