As the third lighthouse built in the San Francisco Bay area (in 1855), Point Bonita was unique. The original tower, built separate from the residence, provided a lonely existence for the initial light keepers. There were no inhabitants for five miles and no direct communication. It was so inhospitable that seven keepers were employed within the first nine months of the operation of the light.
The first fog signal at Point Bonita was a surplus army cannon, but it was eventually replaced by a 1,500-pound bell that the keepers struck with a hammer.
Eventually the original Point Bonita site was abandoned because of intense fog and sailors' inability to see the light. In 1877, he light house authorities chose "Land's End," the bitter end of Point Bonita, broken, unstable, narrow and steep to be the location of the new Point Bonita Light. Construction was difficult and an incline railway had to be built to carry materials from ships up the rock to the building site. John B. Brown was the keeper of the new light and he stayed there for over 20 years, rescuing more than 40 shipwrecked sailors during his career.
The keeper's quarters were destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and in the 1940s a landslide destroyed the land bridge that led to the light. A suspension bridge was built to bridge the gap.
Visiting Point Bonita Lighthouse
The light house remains open to the public, more information regarding public tour times can be acquired by calling (415) 331-1540 or by visiting the lighthouse site. Full moon tours are offered during the summer months.Point Bonita is located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Exit US 101 north at Alexander Avenue or US 101 south at the last exit before the Golden Gate Bridge and follow the road up the hill and through the tunnel.
