PIEDRAS BLANCAS LIGHT
State: CALIFORNIA
Location: NORTHERN ENTRANCE TO SAN
SIMEON BAY
Nearest City: SAN SIMEON
County: SAN LUIS OBISPO
U.S.C.G. District: 11
Year Station Established: 1875
Piedras Blancas Light
Fog signal building with tower in
background. NPS photo by Ralph Eshelman,
1996
Existing Historic Tower:
Year Light First Lit: 1875
Is the Light Operational? YES
Date Deactivated: N/A
Automated: 1975
Foundation Materials: MASONRY
Construction Materials: BRICK
Markings/Patterns: WHITE
Shape: CONICAL W/OUT LANTERN
Relationship to Other Structures:
SEPARATE
Tower Height: 74
Original Optic: FIRST ORDER BIVALVE
FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed: 1875
Present Optic: VRB-25
Year Present Lens Installed: 2002
Height of Focal Plane: 142
Fresnel Lens Disposition: ON LOAN TO
CAMBRIA LION'S CLUB SINCE 1950 AND
CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY AT PINEDERADO PARK
IN THE CITY OF CAMBRIA, CALIFORNIA
Has tower been moved? NO
Previous Tower(s): NONE
Modern Tower? NO
Existing Sound Signal Building? YES
Year Constructed: 1906
Construction Materials: BRICK
Architectural Style: ONLY SHELL
REMAINING
Fog Signal Type: HORN/ORIG. AIR WHISTLE
Existing Keepers Quarters? YES (ORIGINAL
KEEPERS MOVED TO CAMBRIA AND IS NOW A
B&B)
Year Constructed: 1960
Number of Stories: 1
Architectural Style: RANCH STYLE
Construction Materials: CONCRETE
Other Structures: OIL HOUSE, PUMPHOUSE,
OLD COAST GUARD OFFICE, TWO SETS OF
DUPLEX RESIDENCES, MISSILE TRACKING
STATION (1955), BOATHOUSE/GARAGE AND
FOUNDATION FOR WATCH ROOM, WATER TANKS
AND BARN
Current Use: ACTIVE (PRIVATE) AID TO
NAVIGATION (BLM) US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,
AND NOAA BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH STATION, BLM MANAGEMENT
UNIT/RESTORATION/STABILIZATION OF
LIGHTHOUSE, FOG SIGNAL BUILDING AND
FUEL/OIL BUILDING
Owner/Manager: BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Open to the Public? NO
Web Site: www.piedrasblancas.gov
National Register Status: LISTED;
Reference #91001095
Name of Listing: PIEDRAS BLANCAS LIGHT
(LIGHT STATIONS OF CALIFORNIA MPS) On
State List/Inventory? NO; Year Listed:
Miscellaneous:
LANTERN REMOVED IN 1949 BECAUSE OF STORM
DAMAGE