To build at the site was costly. Most of the money was spent just in preparing the site for the lighthouse. Construction began in May 1887. A quarry was established to provide what the granite for the buildings. A railway had to be built to climb up to the 318 foot plateau where the light was to be built. One section of the 700 foot railway had 37 trestles. On the seaward side of the site, another 500 feet of track was laid. A road bed had to be blasted out of the side of the cliff to accommodate the track, 272 feet above the surf. The ridge at the top was leveled to accommodate the tower and the out buildings.
Actual construction on the tower began and by November 1888 the station was nearly complete. The forty foot granite tower and support rooms stood ready to receive the first order lens. Most of the keeper's quarters were finished and the fog signal was in place. But before the site could be completed all of the $100,000 had been spent.
Finally in the spring of 1889, more money was allocated and on August 1, the light at Point Sur was lit for the first time. Point Sur alternates red and white light flashes at 15 second intervals. The eighteen foot tall fresnel lens cast light that was visible out 23 nautical miles from the shore. The optical portion of the lens was eight feet tall and over six feet in diameter and weighed over 4,330 pounds.
Point Sur had four keepers. Three of the keepers were housed in a triplex building and the fourth was housed in a building left over from the construction period. A fence was constructed around the quarters to keep the children at the lightstation from falling of the cliffs. The quarters were cramped but one of the keepers, Mr. Henderson, managed to find space to keep a cow. A barn had been built at the base of the railway which helped with relieving some of the over-crowding.
Twice in the history of the Point Sur Lighthouse, the keepers witnessed the loss of lighter-than-aircraft. The first took place in 1903. The gas balloon, Dr. Greth Mammoth Air Liner was launched from San Francisco's Market Street. The purpose was to promote air travel. All the Dr. Greth was supposed to do was circle the bay and land. Instead it was blown off course to the south. After one hour, a telegram was sent from the Point Sur Lighthouse keeper, reporting that the pilots of the aircraft had arrived at the station on foot.
On February 12, 1935 a more tragic loss was recorded at the Lighthouse. The 785 foot Navy dirigible, the Macon was flying ahead of some rain squalls. Keeper Henderson reported that "the fin seemed to go to pieces very suddenly. The fabric drifted back..." The airship fell into the water and remained afloat for about forty minutes and then sank to the bottom of the ocean. Two of the crew of eighty-three were lost.
The light was automated in 1972. Two rotating aero beacons replaced the old lens. The first order lens is now on display at Monterey's Stanton Center.
Guided tours are available but review the schedule and rules before you make arrangements to go to lightstation.
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