The light atop the Point Sur Lighthouse
Today and tomorrow, we celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Point Sur Lighthouse. The light on the lighthouse was first lit on August 1, 1889. It sits on top of Moro Rock and the Lightstation includes 11 historic buildings including, in part, the light keeper’s house, a barn, carpentry and blacksmith shops, and a visitor’s center which used to be living quarters and a barracks for a small garrison of troops. The buildings have been restored, mostly funded by contributions and the work of approximately 80 volunteers. The original light and the 9,500 pound Fresnel lens are no longer on site, but are at the Museum of Monterey. The current light is fully automated and is still guiding ships.
On Saturday, August 2, 2014 the public is invited to visit the Point Sur Lightstation from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors will be driven to the top of the hill in vans every 15 minutes with the last van leaving at 2:00 p.m. There will be live exhibits, period carpentry and tools, story-telling about the shipwrecks and personal tours of the buildings. The cost is $25 for adults and $15 for children. You can also do tours 4 or 5 days a week. They are on a first come-first serve basis. You can see the specific dates and learn more at their website www.pointsur.org . (On those dates, be prepared to climb the hill leading to the top.)