Roe Island lies 33 miles inland from the Golden Gate, five miles east of Benicia. The island sits at the east end of Suisun Bay, across from Port Chicago. In 1891 a lighthouse was opened at the marshy island to aid vessels entering passing to and from the Sacramento River Delta. The station was built on pilings, as the island was easily flooded. The station initially consisted of the lighthouse, water house, oil house, and outhouse. A windmill supplied running water for the station. A fog bell was placed at the end of the pier in front of the station. In the 1900's a second dwelling, and water house, similar the lighthouse but without the lantern room, was built adjacent to the lighthouse.

The station served quietly and without major incident until the night of July 17, 1944. Across the river in Port Chicago, two ships, the Quinault Victory and E. A. Bryan were being loaded with tons of munitions delivered by train. About 10:20PM that evening, there was an enormous explosion. Over 300 men, both ships, two Coast Guard vessels, and much of the train were simply gone.

Roe Island light station, 3000 yards from Port Chicago, was damaged by the explosion. The damage, coupled with changes in shipping channels, led the Coast Guard to close the station in 1945. The station was sold to a family who used the lighthouse as a summer home for several years, until arsonists burned the station to the ground.

References (see links)

Guardians of the Golden Gate, Shanks pp. 208-215
Umbrella Guide to California Lighthouses, Nelson pp. 135-139