Old Point Loma Lighthouse
Why it's listed
Built in 1854 at the tip of the Point Loma peninsula, this Cape Cod style lighthouse was San Diego's first. It measures 20 by 30 feet, with a cellar, two upper floors and a small attic. A brick tower ten feet in diameter rises from the middle of the building, and the dwelling walls are sandstone. Basement tiles came from the ruins of nearby Spanish Fort Guijarros. A third order Fresnel lens was installed in November 1855, and the light guided ships along the coast and into the harbor until 1891, when it was abandoned and later vandalized. Repairs in 1915 and 1931 and renovation by 1935 followed, and during World War II it served briefly as a signal tower. It was one of the first eight lighthouses on the Pacific Coast, all built by one firm under one contract. Today it is a whitewashed landmark within Cabrillo National Monument, with interiors restored to about 1887.
Significance in brief: It was the port of San Diego's first lighthouse and one of the first eight lighthouses built on the Pacific Coast, all by one firm under one contract. The nomination sees it as a symbol of the nation's first successful effort to provide navigational aids for the newly acquired west coast. It also serves as a landmark symbol of San Diego and a prominent feature of Cabrillo National Monument.
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 74000350, listed June 27, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Included in Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | June 27, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000350 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 19th Century and 20th Century; constructed 1854, in use 1855, abandoned 1891 |
| Architectural style | Cape Cod |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, altered, on its original site and unoccupied. Interior rooms have been restored to approximately their 1887 appearance, and the building is used as a museum and park feature. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Cabrillo National Monument |
| Coordinates | 32.67204, -117.24116 (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 74000350.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084751
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.