Point Vicente is named after a Spanish friar who assisted Captain George Vancouver, who traveled along the California coast in 1793. The prominent point, some ten miles northwest of Pt. Fermin, was slated for a lighthouse in 1916.

However, due to development in the Palos Verdes area, the Lighthouse Service had some difficulty in acquiring the site. The property was not acquired until 1921. Further construction cost problems delayed completion of the lighthouse until 1926.

The station consists of a 55 foot white tower housing a third-order Fresnel lens. The lens stands 185 above sea level, high atop a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The light has undergone few changes since its inception. During World War II, a smaller lens was temporarily installed and a blackout curtain put in place. The landward side of the lantern room was painted white when locals complained of flashing lights in their homes. The light was automated in 1971.

References (see links)

Umbrella Guide to California Lighthouses, Nelson pp. 25-27