Point Fermin Light
Encyclopedia
History
The original fourth order Fresnel lensFresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
was removed in 1942 and a wood replica lantern was installed in 1974. The lighthouse was saved from demolition in 1972 and refurbished in 1974, and a new lantern room and gallery were built by local preservationists. In 1972, the light was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Historical Information from Coast Guard web site:
- Point Fermin Light was built in 1874 with lumber from California redwoods.
- In 1941 the light was extinguished due to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. There was fear that the light would serve as a beacon for enemy planes and ships. Later, the lantern room and gallery were removed. They were replaced by a lookout shack that remained for the next 30 years, and was referred to as "the chicken coop" by locals.
- In 1972 the light was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- The light fell into disuse and disrepair. A new lantern room and gallery were built in 1974.
- The building has now been restored to its original beauty and is open to the public as the Point Fermin Lighthouse Historic Site and Museum.
The original Fresnel lens from the lighthouse, removed in the 1940s, had been missing for decades. After being found and positively identified, on November 13, 2006 the lens was relocated to a display in the restored lighthouse museum from the real estate office of Louis Busch in Malibu, California where it had been on display.
The lighthouse is open daily except Monday and holidays.
In June 2011, the General Services Administration
General Services Administration
The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
made the Point Fermin Light (along with 11 others) available at no cost to public organizations willing to preserve them.
See also
External links
- Point Fermin Lighthouse - official site
- Point Fermin Lighthouse Historic Site and Museum - San Pedro tourism