Lighthouse Keepers

The early Keepers worked a grueling round of difficult jobs every day. Before the light was lit at sunset, they washed the windows of the lantern room, cleaned the Fresnel lens, hauled fuel to the top of the tower, trimmed the lantern wicks and adjusted the air flow through the light apparatus. They stood watch over the light throughout the night and kept the fog signal operating when visibility was obscured. To maintain the buildings and machinery, the Keepers were also skilled as carpenters, painters, steeplejacks and mechanics.

The remote location of Pigeon Point, and the lack of reliable roads along the coast, made it necessary for steamers from San Francisco to supply the station with mail, fuel, and hardware once a month. The Keepers' families maintained produce fields, an orchard, a dairy farm and livestock to supply themselves with food.
In 1962 the Coast Guard demolished the original Victorian structure. In its place they built four bungalows for the Coast Guard personal and their families. These are now rented by the Hostel.