Anacapa Island Light Station (Additional Documentation)
Why it's listed
Anacapa Island Light Station occupies the eastern 40 acres of Anacapa Island in Channel Islands National Park, overlooking the east entrance of the Santa Barbara Channel. The complex includes a reinforced concrete lighthouse tower with its original 3rd order Fresnel lens, a fog-signal building, an assistant keeper's residence, a visitors' center, a tank house, a power house, an oil house, a derrick building, two landings, a stairway and a concrete rainshed. The landings and stairway date from 1931, and the buildings from 1932. Most buildings use Spanish Revival styling, with white stucco walls and red tile roofs, a style popular in Southern California in the 1920s and 1930s. Only Point Vicente Light Station shares this style among California light stations. The station was built after shipwrecks and a commercial fishing boom increased the need for a permanent light, and it was the last light station complex completed in California. The original keeper's dwelling was accidentally demolished in 1978.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criteria A and C. The station reflects California's reliance on maritime transportation and navigation aids. It is also an intact example of Spanish Revival design, used at only one other California light station, and was the last light station complex completed 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 91001101, listed September 3, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Anacapa Island, Channel Islands National Park, Oxnard |
|---|---|
| County | Ventura County |
| Listed | September 3, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001101 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1932-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Lippman, M.W. |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Buildings are generally in very good condition and retain high integrity. The tower still holds its original 3rd order Fresnel lens, the lighthouse continues to play a role in navigation, and the general services building serves as the National Park Service Visitors' Center. |
| Acreage | 78.05 |
| Coordinates | 34.01488, -119.36257 (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 91001101.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4750635
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.