Restoration Progress Updates
February 15, 2024 — Just in time for Valentine's Day, the contractors Sustainable Group and ICC-Commonwealth gave Pigeon Point Lighthouse a great big hug! The crew took advantage of several sunny days to install scaffolding around the tower. This novel form of scaffolding, called bracket scaffolding, braces itself on the neck of the building without the need for full-body coverage of the building.
The park remains open daily from 8 am to sunset and throughout the construction process. The visitor center/museum in the fog signal building and the park store are open 10 am to 4 pm, Friday through Monday. Pigeon Point hostel continues to welcome guests. However, the mini-museum in the kerosene bunker is closed for the duration of construction. Additionally, the picnic tables have been shifted to the Whaler's Cove area to make room for a staging area for construction equipment and material.
Stay tuned for more updates as work continues!
December 4, 2023 — Pigeon Point Lighthouse Rehab Project will start in early 2024!
May 16, 2023 — Good news! We have received the funding for the lighthouse restoration!
October 31, 2022 — Several updates for this month:
New Staff at Pigeon Point
Elizabeth Crowley is the new Interpreter I at Pigeon Point. Her primary responsibilities include the development of interpretive programs for students and the public and the development and management of the docent program. Elizabeth has both undergraduate and graduate degrees in history and has worked in historical interpretation for over a decade. Her experience includes leading school programs with the San Mateo County Historical Association. She also has a personal connection to the San Mateo Coast. Her great-grandmother, Hazel Downing, was the school teacher at Gazos Creek and boarded with the Steele family.
John McCaull is the new Senior Park Aide at Pigeon Point. He is a passionate Parks worker focused on California maritime history and coastal geography. In 2019, John received his bachelor's degree in geography from San Francisco State with a focus in resource management. He is fascinated by lighthouse history and the natural history of Pigeon Point. Some of John's main roles at Pigeon Point will be communicating with and supporting docents, leading virtual programs to schools and the public, and assisting with basic maintenance around the park.
Grant for 3D Virtual Tour of the Tower Awarded
San Mateo County Supervisor Don Horsley and the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved the request for a $10,000 grant under the Measure K process to create a virtual tower tour using the 3D model of the lighthouse recently developed by the CyArk team. CyArk is currently working to launch the virtual tour in time for the anniversary.
This web-based product will be provided to San Mateo County schools for use in their California history programs, especially targeting underserved communities. It will also provide a virtual experience to park visitors while the tower awaits restoration, and later for those unable to climb the iconic ten story historic structure.
Thank you to the Board of Supervisors for supporting Pigeon Point!
150th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, November 12, 2022, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of Pigeon Point Light Station! The Fresnel lens was lit in the Fog Signal Building!
Some of the special activities for the day’s celebration included:
• Opening remarks, including the restoration project status, by California State Parks Director Armando Quintero
• Mid-afternoon remarks by State Senator Josh Becker
• A panel of "Lighthouse Luminaries" who have personal connections to Pigeon Point, including James "Bud" Stevens and Jerry Jolley, former lighthouse keepers, Bob Davis, great-nephew of Assistant Keeper Jesse Mygrants, the longest serving lighthouse keeper at Pigeon Point, and D'Ann Burns, whose grandmother died in the San Juan passenger steamer wreck, Pigeon Point's worst maritime disaster.
• Meet local maritime authors Jann Semones and Frank Perry who have written about Pigeon Point’s history
• Take a “sneak peek” tour into the base of the lighthouse
• Exhibitors teaching about local cultural and natural history
• Children’s activities
• Commemorative poster printed on a vintage printing press
• Music provided by the Lighthouse String Band and the Half Moon Bay High School Jazz Band
September 15, 2022 – Several exciting updates and events happening this month!
Pigeon Point on NBC’s California Live TV Magazine – Friday September 16 at 11:30 am
A film crew from NBC’s California Live, with host Malou Nubla, came out to Pigeon Point to film a segment on the history of the lighthouse and the restoration efforts. From Whaler’s Cove, into the tower, viewing the Fresnel lens and taking a peek into one of the hostel cottages, Malou and her crew explored the park. Set your DVR or take an early lunch and tune into NBC at 11:30 am on Friday, September 16 for Pigeon Point on California Live!
New Staff Being Hired
New park staff are currently being hired. A State Park Interpreter I and a Senior Park Aide will be responsible for revitalizing the volunteer docent program and designing new educational and interpretive opportunities for park visitors.
Grant for 3D Virtual Tour of the Tower
San Mateo County Supervisor Don Horsley and his staff recently visited Pigeon Point for a behind the scenes tour of the property, including the tower. The visit supported a request for a $10,000 grant under the Measure K process to create a virtual tower tour using the 3D model of the lighthouse recently developed by the CyArk team. This web-based product would be provided to San Mateo County schools for use in their California history programs, especially targeting underserved communities. It would also provide a virtual experience to park visitors while the tower awaits restoration, and later for those unable to climb the iconic ten story historic structure. By the end of the visit, Supervisor Horsley agreed to submit the project for the board’s approval in October. We thank him for supporting Pigeon Point!
Picket Fence Repairs Continue
Thanks to a dedicated crew of volunteers known as Bob’s Bobcats, a third section of the historic picket fence has been repaired and repainted. This section divides the parking lot and the “backyard” of the hostel-keepers’ cottages. Unlike the fence along the south bluff and that on the east side of the picnic area, both of which were completely replaced, most of this section of fence was salvaged and repaired. After removing the non-native vegetation, the volunteers wire-brushed the lichen growth and loose paint from the pickets, replaced several pickets and then primed and painted. The latest project provides a welcoming sight for visitors arriving at the park. Our non-profit partner Coastside State Parks Association provided funding for paint and related materials. Thank you to them and to the Bobcats!
150th Anniversary Merchandise Now Available
New commemorative merchandise is arriving in the park store on an almost daily basis. New clothing items include ball caps, fleece vests, and tee shirts. Water glasses and glass coffee mugs with a faux etched design are available. There are also magnets, lapel pins, patches, and book marks. Stop by the store and get yours while supplies last, then join us on Saturday, November 12 for the anniversary celebration! There will be a fun day of activities from 1 to 5 pm, including tours of the lighthouse base, music, children's activities, and native plant sales. Then stay from 5 to 7 pm to see the first order Fresnel lens lighting inside the museum. Make sure to bring a flashlight and jacket!
June 30, 2022 – The consolidation of the original architectural, engineering and technical plans for the overall tower restoration has been completed. The proposed bid package is now undergoing the required fiscal, legal and contractual reviews prior to its release.
3D Documentation of the Tower
The CyArk team continues to process the combination of lidar and photogrammetry collected in May to construct a 3D model of the tower. This may provide useful information to the restoration contractor on the extent of the interior and exterior damage of the tower. We are also working with them on possible additional funding to create a virtual interpretive tower tour using the completed model. Such a tool will be helpful to show visitors the current condition of the tower and as a platform for providing an alternative option for those with mobility issues once the tower re-opens.
Condition Assessment of the Lens Pedestal
In late May, we met with a lampist (an expert on the restoration of Fresnel lenses and related apparatus) to determine how best to remove the pedestal mechanism from the tower for refurbishment and protection during the restoration. He determined that the work could be done onsite in a secure ground-level space. The removal of the pedestal will be coordinated with the restoration contractor once selected. A separate fund-raising effort for this project, including the refurbishment of the lens and its return to the lantern room, will be undertaken by Coastside State Parks Association.
Here are some highlights from the report:
• The pedestal is currently in rough condition but completely capable of being returned to service with proper restoration.
• There is extensive rust covering the entire pedestal.
• The chariot wheels are worn.
• The horizontal guide wheels behind the chariot wheels are frozen.
• The roads that the chariot wheels run on are grooved.
The primary question to be answered is where will the work be done? Ideally, there will be coordination with the primary restoration contractor to provide a crane to remove the pedestal so the work could be done at ground level in a secure storage container on site. When the tower construction is complete, the crane would return the pedestal. The lens will then likely be returned to the lantern room using a rigging system internally rather than any external means.
As time goes on, we will be exploring with the US Coast Guard the possible nightly use of the lens. This may mean it becomes a Private Aid to Navigation (PATON) that would be maintained by State Parks using a small, trained cadre of volunteers.
These two photos show the current condition of the Fresnel lens pedestal, including a close-up of the main gear. CA St Parks.JPG "Fresnel lens pedestal")
May 31, 2022 – The consolidation of the original architectural, engineering, and technical plans for the overall tower restoration has been completed. The proposed bid package is now undergoing the required fiscal, legal and contractual reviews prior to its release.
The CyArk film crew was at Pigeon Point during the week of May 9 to capture 3D digital documentation of the tower, inside and outside. The crew used a combination of LiDAR and photogrammetry to capture its pre-restoration condition and document the historic architecture of the building.
In late May, we met with a lampist to determine how best to remove the pedestal mechanism from the tower for refurbishment and protection during the restoration. He determined that the work could be done onsite in a secure ground-level space. The removal of the pedestal will be coordinated with the restoration contractor once selected. A separate fundraising effort for this project, including the refurbishment of the lens and its return to the lantern room, will be undertaken by Coastside State Parks Association.
Upcoming Events to Celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Pigeon Point Lighthouse:
Doors Open California
Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park
Have you always wanted to see inside Pigeon Point Lighthouse? Do you enjoy visiting and learning about historic places? Then Doors Open California is the special event for you! Pigeon Point is one of 75 historic sites across California that will be offering special tours and other programs this weekend. Pigeon Point tours will include a guided history walk and a behind-the-scenes visit to the base of the lighthouse. Tours will be offered at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12. Spaces are limited, so register today at www.californiapreservation.org/doca. $20 registration fee allows entry to all participating sites for entire weekend. Thanks to the California Preservation Foundation for including us in their wonderful event!
Pigeon Point Lighthouse: A Story of Tragedy, Innovation and Hope
Saturday, June 18 at 1 p.m.
Court House Docket at San Mateo County History Museum
2200 Broadway, Redwood City
As part of the year-long Pigeon Point 150th anniversary celebration, maritime author and historian JoAnn Semones and park interpreter Julie Barrow will discuss why there is more to celebrate than ever at Pigeon Point. JoAnn will focus on the tragedies of shipwrecks and the importance of the human stories connected to the lighthouse. Julie will discuss the innovations brought by the Fresnel lens and the hope that springs from restoration efforts both on the ground and in the tower. Thanks to the San Mateo County History Museum for hosting us! Free program to museum members; $6 admission fee for non-members.
April 11, 2022 — The consolidation of the original architectural, engineering, and technical plans for the overall tower restoration has been completed. The proposed bid package is now undergoing the required fiscal, legal, and contractual reviews prior to its release.
We are working with a lampist to arrange an onsite visit to determine how best to remove the pedestal mechanism from the tower for refurbishment and protection during the restoration. A separate fundraising effort for this project, including the refurbishment of the lens and its return to the lantern room, will be undertaken by Coastside State Parks Association.
The project with CyArk to capture 3-D digital documentation of the tower has been scheduled for early May to capture its pre-restoration condition and document the historic architecture of the building. California State Parks has embarked upon an effort to document its historically significant structures to preserve them in digital form should something like the 2020 CZU fire, which destroyed the historic buildings at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, occur in the future.
The obsolete fire suppression system containing ozone-depleting halon gas, located in the tower’s radio room, has been successfully removed. Though we don’t know exactly when it was installed, it was there to prevent fire from a diesel generator that would provide back-up power for the light. The generator was long since removed but the fire suppression system had been left behind.
To get a new view of the reason for the tower closure, and the upcoming restoration, please take a few minutes to view this collection of videos produced by the California Lighthouse Society. These will also be posted on our Facebook page.
Video: Interview with California Lighthouse Society President Andy Robinson and California State Parks Special Projects Coordinator Julie Barrow (5 Minutes)
Video: Interview – Short Version (1 minute)
Video: Virtual Tour (5 Minutes)
If you are in Sacramento on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, please stop by the State Capitol grounds for Park Advocacy Day. Sponsored by the California State Parks Foundation, it will be an opportunity to learn more about how you can support California State Parks. While you are there, be sure to visit with the folks at the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park booth to get the latest on what’s happening with the lighthouse restoration effort.
Meanwhile, we continue to prepare for the 150th anniversary celebration of Pigeon Point Lighthouse, to be observed this year on November 12, 2022. The day’s event will be sponsored by California State Parks and its nonprofit partner Coastside State Parks Association. We are exploring ideas for commemorative merchandise and unique activities to honor the lighthouse. Of course, we are also preparing for the raising of scaffolding around the tower for the restoration project! Please mark your calendars to join us in wishing Pigeon Point Lighthouse another 150 years of service to the maritime community.
March 22, 2022 — The consolidation of the original architectural, engineering, and technical plans for the overall tower restoration has been completed. The proposed bid package is now undergoing the required fiscal, legal, and contractual reviews prior to its release.
In preparation for the restoration, our nonprofit partner, Coastside State Parks Association, has funded two projects related to the tower. First, funding has been approved for a project with CyArk to capture 3-D digital documentation of the tower in its pre-restoration condition and document the historic architecture of the building. California State Parks has embarked upon an effort to document its historically significant structures to preserve them in digital form should something like the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire, which destroyed the historic buildings at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, occur in the future. Second, within the tower’s work rooms is an obsolete fire suppression system containing ozone-depleting halon gas. Funding was also approved for the safe removal of the system prior to construction.
If you are in Sacramento on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, please stop by the State Capitol grounds for Park Advocacy Day. Sponsored by the California State Parks Foundation, it will be an opportunity to learn more about how you can support California State Parks. While you are there, be sure to visit with the folks at the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park booth to get the latest on what’s happening with the lighthouse restoration effort.
Meanwhile, we continue to prepare for the 150th anniversary celebration of Pigeon Point Lighthouse, to be observed this year on November 12, 2022. The day’s event will be sponsored by California State Parks and its nonprofit partner Coastside State Parks Association.
We are exploring ideas for commemorative merchandise and unique activities to honor the lighthouse. Of course, we are also preparing for the raising of scaffolding around the tower for the restoration project! Please mark your calendars to join us in wishing Pigeon Point Lighthouse another 150 years of service to the maritime community.
February 14, 2022 — State Parks staff continue to update the architectural plans for the lower two-thirds of the tower for inclusion in the bid package for the overall tower restoration. As indicated last month, the earlier plan was to complete restoration in several phases. With the allocation of $18+ million in state funds, this project will be undertaken in its entirety.
The Pigeon Point Advisory Group continues its work to identify and address a variety of operational issues in anticipation of the restoration effort. This includes researching how other organizations manage lighthouses open to the public, whether the Fresnel could again be the nightly aid to navigation, structuring public access once the construction is complete, enhancing the docent program, and much more.
One of the advisory group’s members, Santa Cruz philanthropist William Simpkins, has long been associated with lighthouses along the central California coast. Bill is the co-founder of System Studies, Inc., providing testing equipment to protect telecommunications cables. Bill was instrumental in raising funds for Walton Lighthouse at the mouth of Santa Cruz Harbor, as well as persuading the US Coast Guard to re-establish the solid light at the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse. He is currently researching other lighthouse organizations to glean ideas for how to improve Pigeon Point as we approach restoration. We are grateful for his participation and support with the Pigeon Point Lighthouse restoration.
Now that we are fully into 2022, we are beginning to plan for the 150th anniversary celebration of Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Many of you know that each November, on the Saturday closest to November 15, the night the light was first lit, California State Parks and its nonprofit partner Coastside State Parks Association, host a special event. This year, the festivities will be held November 12, 2022. Leading up that singular day, we are exploring ideas for commemorative merchandise and unique activities to honor the lighthouse. Of course, we are also preparing for the raising of scaffolding around the tower for the restoration project! Please mark your calendars to join us in wishing Pigeon Point Lighthouse another 150 years of service to the maritime community.
January 11, 2022 — State Parks staff continue to update the architectural plans for the lower two-thirds of the tower for inclusion in the bid package for the overall tower restoration. As indicated last month, the earlier plan was to complete restoration in several phases. With the allocation of $18+ million in state funds, this project will be undertaken in its entirety.
While we await the bid package, we thought people might like a sneak-peek into the tower to see some of the damage that has occurred. View photos of damage from the bottom to the top. As mentioned in the last update, we are also working with the California Lighthouse Society on a short video that will show both the interior and exterior damage.
December 9, 2021 — State Parks staff continue to update the architectural plans for the lower two-thirds of the tower for inclusion in the bid package for the overall tower restoration. As indicated last month, the earlier plan was to complete restoration in several phases. With the allocation of $18+ million in state funds, this project will be undertaken in its entirety.
As we approach the release of the bid package, we are also looking into the estimated cost to refurbish the lens, including the pedestal, and the re-installation in the tower lantern room. This will be a separate project from the restoration of the tower itself, so we will use this information to work with our partners, listed below, to raise the funds needed in parallel with the construction.
As mentioned in the November update, the new California Lighthouse Society is a chapter of the US Lighthouse Society. In partnership with them, we will be creating a short video that highlights the damage to the tower, both outside and inside. This will be helpful in the above fundraising campaign as well as providing the public with a sense of why the overall restoration project is occurring.
November 5, 2021 — State Parks staff continue to update the architectural plans for the lower two-thirds of the tower for inclusion in the bid package for the overall tower restoration. As indicated last month, the earlier plan was to complete restoration in several phases. With the allocation of $18+ million in state funds, this project will be undertaken in its entirety.
On Saturday, November 13, between 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM, State Parks will celebrate the 149th anniversary of the lighthouse’s first lighting. While following current county COVID requirements, this year’s celebration will include:
• Tours into the base of the lighthouse on the hour, at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00 PM. Tickets are required and will be on sale in the park bookstore.
• New exhibits in the oil bunker will be open.
• Children activities - crafts, scavenger hunt, and a puppet show at 3 PM put on by Exploring New Horizons.
• Book signing by maritime author and historian JoAnn Semones in the fog signal building.
• Native plant sales sponsored by Half Moon Bay State Beach’s volunteer-run nursery.
• Refreshments and local pastries/pies from Arcangeli in Pescadero in the multi-purpose room.
• Between 5:00 and 7:00 PM, the first order Fresnel lens will be lit inside the fog signal building.
Join us for a fun day at the lighthouse! Please bring a flashlight as there is minimal area lighting after dark and warm clothing as the temperature can vary. Inclement weather may cancel the event; check our Facebook page for the status at: www.facebook.com/PigeonPointLighthouse.
We also want to take this opportunity to welcome the newly established California Lighthouse Society, a chapter of the US Lighthouse Society. Their mission is to “preserve and defend California’s historic beacons by creating and financially supporting preservation efforts across the state, instituting new lighthouse-related events, and raising public awareness of these structures’ past, present, and future with the aim of unifying the state’s lighthouse community.” For more information, visit: www.CALighthouseSociety.org.
October 13, 2021 — State Parks staff continue to update the architectural plans for the lower two-thirds of the tower for inclusion in the bid package for the overall tower restoration. As indicated last month, the earlier plan was to complete restoration in several phases. With the allocation of $18+ million in state funds, this project will be undertaken in its entirety.
On a parallel track, State Parks has established an advisory group to develop recommendations for consideration in addressing a variety of visitor-supporting infrastructure topics. For example, the group will consider how to provide:
• public access once the tower restoration is complete
• access alternatives for those with limited physical abilities unable to enter the tower
• staffing and volunteer resources needed
• ways to address parking, restroom facilities and other visitor needs in anticipation of increased visitorship
• new landscaping to improve visitor flow around the park
• long-term maintenance of this iconic structure on an ongoing basis
• other types of activities and events to attract visitors
A related ground-level project currently being developed is the replacement of the observation deck behind the fog signal building. This area provides visitors with an unimpeded view of the rocky reefs that once presented a dangerous obstacle to sailing ships making their way to San Francisco loaded with prospective gold miners and goods for the burgeoning population of California. Today, visitors also enjoy looking for whales, dolphins, harbor seals, pelicans and other marine life, or watching for the green flash of the sunset on a crisp, clear fall evening.
September 10, 2021 — Work is underway to compile the construction bid package that will be released to prospective historic restoration companies. Originally, this project was expected to be completed in several phases. Full funding allows these phases to be consolidated into one project. Here is a sense of how this process may work once the bid package is released:
Day 0 – bid package released
Day 60 – bids due
Day 120 – contract awarded
Emphasis will be placed on the upper third of the structure where the most significant damage is located. The upper belt course failed in late 2001, causing the US Coast Guard to close public access. The outer decks, railings and lantern roof have experienced considerable rust and deterioration. The interior masonry in the upper portion is crumbling from water intrusion.
Throughout the body of the tower, the interior masonry and wrought-iron spiral staircase will be refurbished to insure structural integrity. The exterior masonry will be similarly addressed. At the base, the lower belt courses have also rusted and will require refurbishment or replacement. Some work has already been completed on the keeper’s office/oil room at the base but more will be needed.
July 16, 2021 — As a result of improved revenue projections in late 2020, the Governor's January Budget included $20 million for deferred maintenance projects within the State Park System, which was subsequently increased to $185 million in the 2021 May Revision. This additional funding enabled State Parks to increase its allocation for the Pigeon Point Lighthouse Project to fully-fund both phases of the restoration at a cost of approximately $18 million. The project is scheduled to go out to bid this fall and start construction next year.
Aug. 29, 2019 — California State Parks today announced that it is one-step closer to restoring a shuttered icon of the California Coast – the Pigeon Point Lighthouse that has been closed to the public for almost 20 years. The department is dedicating $9.157 million to the Upper Lighthouse Stabilization and Restoration Project. Work on the lighthouse could begin as early as next spring.