Point Fermin Lighthouse
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Perched on steep cliffs above the entrance to Los Angeles Harbor, this wooden lighthouse at Point Fermin in San Pedro combines a light tower with living quarters for keepers. Built in 1874, it first showed its light on December 15 of that year, after rising sea traffic by 1871 created a need for guidance into the harbor. It was the first substantial navigational aid there and is the only surviving wooden lighthouse of those built along the coast between San Francisco and San Diego in the 1870s. Its balloon-type frame, board-and-batten tower and bracketed overhangs reflect Victorian design. Electric light replaced oil lamps in 1925, but in 1942 the Coast Guard darkened it, painted it wartime green and converted the tower into a radar lookout station. The light never returned after the war, and the building later became part of a city park, serving as a residence for park personnel.
Significance in brief: It was the first substantial aid to navigation at San Pedro and what became Los Angeles Harbor. Of the several wooden lighthouses built between San Francisco and San Diego in the 1870s, it is the only one remaining. It also served as a secret radar lookout station in World War II, the first of its kind in the harbor area.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72000234, listed June 13, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 805 Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | June 13, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000234 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Victorian (1880 period), balloon-type construction with bracketed overhangs |
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in fair condition and used as a residence for park personnel of the San Pedro Park and Recreation Department; restoration proposals call for removing non-original features and reinstalling the original lens. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Point Fermin Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.70534, -118.29366 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72000234.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7208023
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.