Mount Sutro: An Electronic Periodical

529032024
1147Hours EDT

The Gateway to the Nexus

by Archived Article (2001–2014) Help
Photo Credit: David July — A small wooden platform extending south onto the edge of the rocky promontory upon which the Pigeon Point Lighthouse (1872) is built, Pescadero, California: 30 January 2013

A small wooden platform extending south onto the edge of the rocky promontory upon which the Pigeon Point Lighthouse (1871) is built.

210 Pigeon Point Road, Pescadero, California: 30 January 2013


part of the Pacific Coast Highway album

The entire area around Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park is strikingly beautiful. Although there are many picturesque spots here, a particular highlight is the wooden platform that extends south onto the rocky promontory.

From this platform, the purpose of which is apparently to wow visitors like me, there are unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean, coastline and the Pigeon Point Lighthouse (1871) itself. It is not at all rickety, but I would not want to be out there with loads of other people because of its small size.

Photo Credit: David July — Pacific Ocean sunset through the posts of the wooden platform on the edge of the rocky promontory upon which the Pigeon Point Lighthouse (1871) is built, Pescadero, California: 30 January 2013

There were few people around this day, so Marc and I had the platform to ourselves. It would be a good spot to watch marine life like whales and dolphins that are known to frequent the area during certain times of year. Sitting on a nearby bench to the north about twenty minutes later, we did spot a whale surfacing for air not far from shore.

Photo Credit: David July — Looking north up the coastline from the platform on the edge of the rocky promontory upon which the Pigeon Point Lighthouse (1871) is built, Pescadero, California: 30 January 2013

The rocky shallows surrounding Pigeon Point claimed the clipper ship Carrier Pigeon (1852) on June 6, 1853 when it ran aground about 500 feet offshore. Captain Azariah Doane and his crew abandoned ship and made it safely to shore, but the vessel and most of its cargo were a loss. The promontory was thereafter called Pigeon Point for that ship.

Photo Credit: David July — Pigeon Point Lighthouse (1871) from the platform on the southern edge of the rocky promontory upon which it is built, Pescadero, California: 30 January 2013

The Pigeon Point fog signal first sounded on September 10, 1871 and had four iterations through 1976: steam whistle, fog siren, two-tone diaphone and single-note diaphragm. The five-wick lard oil lamp and 1,008 prism, first-order Fresnel lens operated from November 15, 1872 until automation in 1974.

Photo Credit: David July
Photo Credit: David July
Photo Credit: David July
Photo Credit: David July