The Big Lighthouse

It was breezy and a bit chilly when we started down the path to the second, and larger of the two lighthouses along the Mendocino Coastline. I was feeling somewhat disappointed that the weather was not cooperating with the three of us and our little weekend vacation.

We trooped on anyway — making it out to the Point Arena Lighthouse. At 115 feet, it’s the tallest lighthouse on the West coast. It’s also the closest location on the mainland to Honolulu, Hawaii.

The first European mention Point Arena was Spaniard Bartolomé Ferrelo in 1543. He named it Cabo de Fortunas, which is Spanish for “cape of fortunes.”

The cape was renamed to Punta Delgado or narrow point in 1775 by lieutenant Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, commander of the schooner Sonora. He and his ship were  part of a royal expedition chartered by the government of Mexico to map the north coast of Alta California. 

Later the point was called Barra de Arena (i.e. sandbar) and finally Point Arena, which literally translates to “sand point.”  The first post office opened in 1858, originally called Punta Arenas — it was renamed Point Arena in 1889 and by 1908, a town by the same name had incorporated itself.

Even Kyle — who generally doesn’t like heights — climbed up and enjoyed the view from the “gallery.”