LA Harbor Lighthouse

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About The Site

LA Harbor sketch

The LA Harbor Light was the culmination of a almost forty years of infighting between railroads and politicians over the best site for a major port in the Los Angeles area. The Southern Pacific Railroad completed a line to the area in 1874, and established a small port in the area. A rival line and port was built in Santa Monica. The Southern Pacific bought and closed this line in 1876. The Santa Fe railroad later established a line to Redondo Beach, and established yet another competing port. In 1893, the Southern Pacific re-opened the Santa Monica port.

When determining the best location for a deep-water port in the area, three congressional commissions from 1891-1897 all favored the San Pedro site. Despite strong resistance from Collis P. Huntington, owner of the Southern Pacific and proponent of the Santa Monica site, a breakwater was built in San Pedro Bay. The two-mile breakwater was completed in 1910, and a lighthouse established at the end of the breakwater in 1913. The lighthouse housed a first-order Fresnel lens, and compressed air sirens to serve as fog signals.

The lighthouse has survived earthquakes and battleships. In 1933, the lighthouse was severely jolted by an earthquake. The lens was undamaged. Several years later, in an incident which the U.S. Navy marked "classified", a battleship scraped the side of the lighthouse, tossing the keeper from his bed and violently rattling the platform.

Select an image to enlarge

Photo courtesy of Jeff Webb

The light's color was switched to green in the early 1930's to distinguish it from the lights of the San Pedro Bay. The Coast Guard assumed control of the station in 1939. The light was automated in 1975. After a storm cut off the lighthouse power by slicing through the breakwall, the lighthouse received solar panels to power its generators. A new lens replaced the Fresnel lens. When locals complained of the reduced range of the new light, it was replaced with another lens, similar to the first. The original lens is on display at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum in San Pedro.

References (see links)

Umbrella Guide to California Lighthouses, Nelson pp. 21-24

Directions: San Pedro is in southern Los Angeles. To get to the area, take Interstate 110 South to the end. The lighthouse is not directly accessible. The breakwater is fenced off and access by foot is prohibited, due to dangerous waves and currents. The lighthouse is visible at a distance from the waterfront area at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, and also from Point Fermin. The light is best viewed by boat.

The Los Angeles Maritime Museum is located in the Ports O'Call Village in San Pedro. To get to Ports O'Call Village, take 110 South to the end at Gaffey Street. Follow Gaffey south, and turn left onto Sixth Street. Follow the signs to the village. For more information, call (310) 548-7618 or visit their website (see links).

Los Angeles Sightseeing Cruises offers tours of the LA Harbor and surrounding area. Their website (see links) lists several tours, but not all are offered year-round. (The one hour harbor cruise will get you a distant view of the lighthouse. If you want a better look, you should probably take the two hour coastline cruise, which would pass the breakwall when exiting the harbor.) Los Angeles Sightseeing Cruises is located at Berth 78, Ports O'Call Village in San Pedro. Call (800) 900-8188 for current information or visit their website (see links). (November 2006)