Battery Point Lighthouse

Battery Point Lighthouse is an active lighthouse that serves as a private aid to navigation. Its oil lamps were first lit on December 10, 1856. In its 160-year history, many keepers and their families have tended to the light. Also known as the Crescent City Light Station, the lighthouse was operated by the U.S. Lighthouse Service until 1936 when the U.S. Coast Guard took over operation and maintenance. The light was automated in 1953, but the Coast Guard continued to maintain the Fifth Order Drumm lens until 1965 when it was decommissioned. The light was then reactivated as a private aid to navigation in 1982.

Many great stories about Battery Point Lighthouse’s history and Native American legends about the island have been crafted over time, including tales of its resident ghost. But some stories were not so great. During the tsunami that was generated by the 1964 Alaska earthquake, the resident keepers watched in horror throughout the night as a series of waves wreaked havoc on the mainland. The keepers provided a terrifying eyewitness account of the destruction that took eleven lives.

Photographers and artists have captured the beauty of the Lighthouse thousands of times, making it one of the most vivid images in all of Del Norte County, and the subject of novels, films, television programs, commercials, and music videos.

Keepers still reside at the lighthouse, which is open to the public for tours. Its museum includes furniture and artifacts left behind since the 1850s. Tours also include a climb into the light tower.

Visits to the Battery Point Lighthouse and island are only possible at low tide. Extreme care and caution should be used when crossing the two hundred feet between the mainland and island anytime wave action may cover the crossing area. Sneaker waves are a threat to visitors standing on or near the rocks and the shore of the island. Care by visitors should be taken to protect all wildlife and plant life on the island.

A 52 Weeks of Fun Fascinating Fact about Battery Point Lighthouse

Battery Point Lighthouse is considered one of the most haunted lighthouses in the world. Reports include the sensation of being touched when no one is there.

Attraction Advice

The lighthouse is open to the public only when low tide permits access, daily from April through September with tours between 10 AM and 4 PM. October through March, the lighthouse is open for tours on weekends, from 10 AM to 4 PM.