Yerba Buena Island Lighthouse
Also known as: Goat Island Lighthouse
Why it's listed
Yerba Buena Island Light Station sits on the southern slope of an island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. It includes an octagonal wood-frame lighthouse tower dated 1875, a fog-signal building, a Gothic Keeper's quarters built in 1873 and a concrete oil house from 1907. The tower carries Eastlake scrollwork and still holds its original 5th order Fresnel lens and a rare pear-shaped smoke chimney. It is the only freestanding wood lighthouse tower still operating in California. The station was established because ferry and railroad traffic between San Francisco and Oakland made the island a navigation hazard, especially in fog. The Keeper's quarters, originally a duplex, is one of only two surviving Gothic-style keeper's dwellings in the state. No modern buildings intrude on the complex. It was listed for its role in California maritime transportation and for its well-preserved late 19th century design.
Significance in brief: The station is significant under Criteria A and C for its link to California's reliance on maritime transportation and for its intact late 19th century buildings. The tower is the only freestanding wood-frame lighthouse tower still operating in California and keeps its original 5th order Fresnel lens. The Keeper's quarters is one of only two surviving Gothic-style keeper's dwellings in the state.
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 91001096, listed September 3, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco |
|---|---|
| County | San Francisco |
| Listed | September 3, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001096 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1875-1940 |
| Architectural style | Stick/Eastlake; Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The tower is in excellent condition and its lens still operates. The Keeper's quarters is used as a single-family home by the Coast Guard district's Commanding Officer. The light was automated in 1958. |
| Acreage | 2.7 |
| Coordinates | 37.80726, -122.36260 (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 91001096.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8052543
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.