Point Cabrillo Light Station
The pin is a point inside the NPS boundary polygon, not a surveyed location.
Why it's listed
Point Cabrillo Light Station occupies a grassy mesa about 60 feet above the Pacific near Caspar, in Mendocino County. Its first light shone on June 10, 1909, filling a 115-mile gap in coastal lighting between Point Arena and Cape Mendocino. Small lumber schooners hugging the shore to reach the narrow doghole ports relied on it. The station is laid out in a line running inland from the cliffs, led by a wood tower attached to a fog-signal building that resembles a church with a steeple. Behind it stand three two-story Craftsman keepers' houses, an oil house, a carpenter's shop, storage buildings, a pump house and a water tank. The tower still holds its original 3rd order Fresnel lens. Only the barn from the original station is gone, and no modern buildings intrude. The station was recognized for its link to the timber economy and maritime transportation, and for its remarkably complete early 20th century architecture, including massive timber brackets and wood shingle siding.
Significance in brief: The station is significant under Criteria A and C. It is tied to California's dependence on maritime transportation, as the light for the small lumber schooners serving the north coast "doghole" ports. It is also an intact early 20th century light station with Craftsman-style buildings and its original 3rd order Fresnel lens. Only the barn from the original station is gone.
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 91001092, listed September 3, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 45300 Lighthouse Rd., Caspar |
|---|---|
| County | Mendocino County |
| Listed | September 3, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001092 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1909-1940 |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Buildings are described as in very good condition. Some minor repairs and maintenance are needed on the tower, and the keepers' residences have been upgraded inside to modern living standards. The light continues to play a role in navigation. |
| Acreage | 30.4 |
| Coordinates | 39.34759, -123.82412 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 91001092.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5321418
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.