Point San Luis Lighthouse

In 1867 President Andrew Johnson issued an executive order directing the Department of the Interior "to take the necessary steps to cause the reservation for Light House purposes of an area ... of land at ... Point San Luis". The first pier at Port San Luis was built the next year. Congressman Romaldo Pacheco of San Luis Obispo introduced a bill in 1877 to build a lighthouse at Point San Luis. Construction would not commence until 1889. By 1890 whaling vessels, cargo ships, tankers and fishing boats were all guided around the treacherous point into the safe harbor. Read more

Until 1933 the Lighthouse projected a beam of light 20 miles out to sea from one kerosene lamp set high in its tower, by collecting all the lamp's light with over 100 Lenses made by French craftsman.
The Point San Luis Lighthouse Park enjoys dramatic vistas stretching from Avila to Vandenberg. Whales, Sea Lions and Otters are frequently seen leaping or cavorting on the surface.

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