Point Montara Light Station
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Why it's listed
Point Montara Light Station sits on a rocky bluff about 70 feet above the Pacific at Montara, San Mateo County, now surrounded by suburban homes. It began in 1875 as a fog-signal station, after wrecks such as the steamer Colorado in 1868 and the ship Acuelo in 1872 showed the danger of the reef-strewn coast. A small beacon was added around 1900, and the current conical tower was built in 1928. Its steel shaft is bolted together in prefabricated panels, which makes it the only lighthouse of that type in California. The 1902 fog-signal building, the 1875 two-story Victorian Gothic keeper's quarters and the 1902 coal shed remain grouped near the point's edge. The station was listed for its link to California maritime transportation and for its well-preserved example of a late 19th and early 20th century light station. Its period of significance runs from 1875 to 1940.
Significance in brief: The station is tied to California's reliance on maritime transportation and the aids that made navigation possible along a dangerous stretch of coast on the sea road to San Francisco. It also preserves a cohesive group of original buildings typical of late 19th and early 20th century light stations. Its 1928 tower is the only bolted, metal-sided lighthouse in California.
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 91001094, listed September 3, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of 16th St. and CA 1, Montara |
|---|---|
| County | San Mateo County |
| Listed | September 3, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001094 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1875-1940 |
| Architect / builder | U.S. Lighthouse Service, 12th District |
| Architectural style | Gothic (Victorian Gothic keeper's quarters); light station complex |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Contributing buildings are in good to excellent condition. The tower has an automated beacon, the fog-signal equipment has been removed, and the keeper's quarters is still used as a duplex. |
| Acreage | 7.3 |
| Coordinates | 37.53684, -122.51908 (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 91001094.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q12066066
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.