The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s

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Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC

"Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?"

"But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Archived Test

Saturday, July 29 - Gates open 8 p.m., Tour around 8:30 p.m.



Come experience a spectacular night time view . . .

. . . from atop the Point Arena Lighthouse. Enjoy a panoramic view of the sea and coast from the lantern room at the top of the Tower, and if the weather cooperates it will be illuminated by the full moon! Our docents and guides will help you experience what it was like to be a Lighthouse Keeper and climb the Tower at night. They will guide you on your journey into the past and explain the unique history of this historic landmark, the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast. Champagne, sparkling juice and sweet and savory snacks will be served as part of the tour, and you get to take home an etched Point Arena Lighthouse champagne flute as a souvenir of this unique experience!



According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac Some Native American tribes in what is now the northeastern United States called the August full Moon the Sturgeon Moon because they knew that the sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this full moon. Other tribes called August’s full moon the Full Green Corn Moon signaling that the corn was nearly ready for harvest. Other examples for August are Wheat Cut Moon (San Ildefonso, and San Juan), Moon When All Things Ripen (Dakota Sioux) and Blueberry Moon (Ojibwe).



All proceeds go toward the support and maintenance of the Lighthouse Tower, Museum and grounds. Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. thank you for your generous support. Tickets are $50 each.



Reservations must be made by phone at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 or in person no later than 3:30 p.m. three (3) days 

 the date of the event. We require a minimum of eight (8) reservations to conduct the tour, and there is a limit of 20 guests per tour. If we reach the minimum prior to three (3) days before the event we will accept additional reservations (up to a total of 20 guests) until the day of the tour. We do not accept walk ins unless we have not reached the maximum number of guests.



 No refunds given if you cancel your reservation three days or less before the event. Tours will be cancelled if less than eight (8) guests sign up prior to three (3) days before the tour. 

You will receive a full refund if the event is cancelled. 

Please call our Reservation Desk at at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 three (3) days prior to the tour to confirm the event is happening as scheduled.

(almost) Full Sturgeon Moon Night Tour

The current Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit features photography by Rod Whaley and jewelry by Ling-Yen Jones.  The exhibit will display from August 5 through October 31.  Rod’s exhibit includes photographs printed on silver gelatin, cotton paper and stretched canvas selected from two of his previous exhibits in other galleries, 

 from 2005.  Unframed color prints of Point Arena Lighthouse and surrounding landscapes will be also be available during the exhibit. The exhibit focuses on both California and Oregon natural environments Rod shot from 1998 to 2022.



 is of abstract, minimalist and straightforward photography.  Three 30” x 40” stretched/framed canvas will be arranged as window shades to bring natural light luminescence and vibrancy to each piece.


“

 photographed in black and white at South Yuba River State Park, Nevada County will be shown along with 5”x7” note cards.

 are living sculptures photographed from tidal pools along Oregon and California coastlines, created for the first time an elongated 12ft. x 13in. color print on canvas tailored for The Whale Watch Room Gallery.

 is a segment that delivers Rod’s fascination with natures wonderment.  The opening of a rose, spiral twist of Calla Lilly, and “The Unfolding” of Agave, the show print origin.




My “day job” never gained traction to a guided or planned career in photography, rather an unknown journey giving time and space to seek my own study.  As I peered through the lens with intent to capture my “wabi-sabi” I found connection in nature and industrial design where line, shadow and shape bring forth sculpture.  I am inspired from works of Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Weston and Minor White.




Rod Whaley hails from Tillamook County Oregon.  Born in 1953 in Detroit, Michigan he earned a BA Degree in Humanities/Communications from Florida Atlantic University in 1974.  His artistic side was put to good use when he was a Technical Illustrator/Photographer for Boeing Airplane Company from 1980 to 1984 and a Network Design/Publications Author for Boeing Computer Services from 1986 to 1990.  He then spent 1990 to 2015 in Telecommunications Engineering/Operations, Pacific Telecom Cable, Alaska Communications, Southern Cross Network.  Rod spent almost 2 years during COVID working on a project in Manchester CA and during that time he stayed in Assistant Keeper’s House 3 at the Lighthouse, joined occasionally by his wife Julie, and enjoyed taking pictures of the Mendocino coast to add to his portfolio.

Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit - Aug thru Oct

Sara Bogard presents "Seals In the Ebb and Flow - Harbor Seals and other Species of the Point Arena Lighthouse/Stornetta Public Lands."


Lighthouse Lecture Series Presentation on September 16th, 2023 at 4 p.m.




This Lecture Presentation gives an ongoing glimpse in 2023 of the rich diversity of life and habitat seen at the Point Arena Lighthouse and adjacent Stornetta Public Lands. The presentation will share the lives and critical habitat of the animals who reside and migrate through this shoreline and bluff. From her weekly surveys and monitoring, Sara will present data she has gathered on the resident Harbor Seals, birds and other species over the past year. During the pupping season from March through June, her highest pup count was 29 pups on June 8th and the high count of adults and immature was 226 on July 6th. Observations of Harbor Seal mother and pup interaction reveal a unique bond across many species. From this data and information, patterns and cycles of birth, nesting and migration emerge to make these bluff tops a spectacular place to view and connect with the natural world.







Sara is an Ocean Conservationist. She is a citizen scientist and volunteer for:


-  The Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, Beach Watch Program
-  The California Central Regional Harbor seal Monitoring and Inventory Program
-  The Marine Mammal Center
-  The Sea Ranch Harbor Seal Docent Program
-  Naked Whale Research


As a citizen scientist volunteer for the GFNMS Beach Watch Program, she surveys several area beaches and bluffs, counting live species on both, and additionally counts and takes measurement of dead species on beach surveys. These surveys are done with teams of volunteers to collect and report data throughout the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.  She gathers weekly data on the Harbor Seal population at the Point Arena Lighthouse/Stornetta Bluff and, for the California Central Regional Harbor Seal Monitor and Inventory Program, during the pupping/molting season.

Her volunteer work for The Marine Mammal Center includes assessment, monitoring and rescue of marine mammals. In addition, she takes on the role of a Harbor Seal Docent for The Sea Ranch, during the pupping season and conducts other ongoing pinniped surveys in Mendocino County, California.  She also volunteers for Naked Whale Research, which focuses on tracking Killer Whales and other cetaceans along the Mendonoma Coast. Her goal is to collect this data and share her observations to promote the health and sustainability of pinniped populations in Northern California and bring public awareness to the effects of human and current environmental factors which affect these species.

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Sara Bogard

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with an (almost) Full Cold Moon Night Tour on Saturday, December 14th.  Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and the tour starts around 5 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course!  An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. The tour is limited to 20 guests, so reservations are recommended in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. If the tour is canceled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

December’s full Moon is most commonly known as the Cold Moon—a Mohawk name that conveys the frigid conditions of this time of year when cold weather truly begins to grip us. This full Moon has also been called the Long Night Moon (Mohican), as it rises during the “longest” nights of the year, near the December winter solstice. this name is doubly fitting because December’s full Moon shines above the horizon for a more extended period than most full Moons.

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon and (almost) Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn't fall on that day.  Check our 

 for dates and times of all Lighthouse events.  For more information or to make a reservation, call the Lighthouse at 707-882-2809, ext. 1 at least three days before the date of the tour.

(almost) Full Cold Moon Night Tour

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with an (almost) Full Beaver Moon Night Tour on Saturday, November 16.  Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the tour starts around 6 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course!  An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. The tour is limited to 20 guests, so reservations are recommended in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. If the tour is canceled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

For decades, the Almanac has referenced the monthly full Moons with names tied to early Native American, Colonial American, and European folklore. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred and through all of the Moon’s phases—not only the full Moon. Why the “Beaver” Moon? This is the time of year when beavers begin to take shelter in their lodges, having laid up sufficient food stores for the long winter ahead. During the fur trade in North America, it was also the season to trap beavers for their thick, winter-ready pelts.

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon and (almost) Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn't fall on that day.  Check our 

(almost) Full Beaver Moon Night Tour

On Saturday, November 16 at 4 p.m. Shari Goforth will present "Hungry, Hungry Giants: Gray Whale Survival Strategies in the Changing Ocean Conditions of the Pacific Northwest Coast."

Gray whales, Eschrichtius robustus, were nearly forced into extinction by whaling. With the ban on whaling and marine mammal protections, Pacific Northwest Coast gray whales made a strong comeback. E. robustus’ numbers rose to nearly 27,000 individuals and they were, as their name suggests, robust. Since 2019, though, the number of dead gray whales washing up along the west coast has been elevated. Scientists at NOAA, the agency who monitors the gray whale population, declared an end to the Unusual Mortality Event, but the gray whales are still in troubled waters.

Come spend time with us at the beautiful Pt. Arena Lighthouse where we will try to unravel the mystery of the shrinking gray whale population and explore some of the unique strategies these charismatic gray whales are adopting to survive in these changing times.

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Shari Goforth

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with an (almost) Full Hunter's Moon Night Tour on Saturday, October 19.  Gates open at 7 p.m. and the tour starts around 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course!  An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. The tour is limited to 20 guests, so reservations are recommended in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. If the tour is canceled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

According to the Old Farmer’s it is believed that this full moon came to be called the full Hunter’s Moon because it signaled the time to go hunting in preparation for the cold winter ahead. Animals are beginning to fatten up ahead of winter, and since the farmers had recently cleaned out their fields under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily see the deer and other animals that had come out to root through the remaining scraps (as well as the foxes and wolves that had come out to prey on them). The earliest use of the term “Hunter’s Moon,” cited in the Oxford English Dictionary, is from 1710. Some sources suggest that other names for the Hunter’s Moon are the Sanguine or Blood Moon, either associated with the blood from hunting or the color of the changing autumn leaves. The names of the moon are most often related to natural signs of the season or to activities that were done at this time of year. Some other Native American names for the October full moon include Drying Rice Moon (Dakota), Falling Leaves Moon (Anishinaabe), Freezing Moon (Ojibwe), Ice Moon (Haida) and Migrating Moon (Cree).

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon and (almost) Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn't fall on that day.  Check our 

(almost) Full Hunter's Moon Night Tour

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with an (almost)  Full Sturgeon Moon Night Tour on Saturday, September 14.  Gates open at 7 p.m. and the tour starts around 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course!  An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. The tour is limited to 20 guests, so reservations are recommended in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. If the tour is canceled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

The Harvest Moon is the moon that falls near the autumnal equinox. This full Moon provides the most light at the time when it’s needed most—to complete the harvest. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac full moon names were used by early Colonial Americans who learned the names from the local Native Americans. Indigenous people did not record time by using the months of the Julian or Gregorian calendar. Many tribes kept track of time by observing the seasons and lunar months, although there was much variability. The September full moon is also called the Full Corn Moon because it traditionally corresponds with the time of harvesting corn. It is also called the Barley Moon because this is the time to harvest and thresh ripened barley. Some other traditional September Full Moon names used by Native Americans include “Moon When the Plums Are Scarlet” (Lakota Sioux), “Moon When the Deer Paw the Earth” (Omaha Native Americans), and “Moon When the Calves Grow Hair” (Sioux Native Americans).

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon and (almost) Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn't fall on that day.  Check our 

(almost) Full Harvest Moon Night Tour

Mark Hancock presents "Oh, The Things I've Seen!" as part of the Lighthouse Lecture Series on Saturday, August 17 at 5 p.m.

In his 9 years as Executive Director of the Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. (PALKI) Mark has seen and experienced some of the most beautiful, unique, mysterious, awe-inspiring and entertaining sights, sounds and interactions at the Light Station.  Join him for this presentation of his favorite things he has seen during his time on the Station and hear the stories behind them.  People, flora and fauna, weather, atmospheric anomalies, full moons, storms, unique visitors (human, animal and mechanical) will all be part of this fascinating look back at the amazing sights you will see only at the 154 year old Light Station!

Mark has had a varied 49 year career in the working world, with a wide variety of positions in building maintenance, customer service, software application development and implementation, sales, quality assurance and other roles in both large corporations and small software startups. Prior to moving to Gualala full time in 2011 he worked at Crocker Bank, Pacific Bell (where he met his wife of 39 years, Laverne), software startups Salestar and Spear Technologies, and Wells Fargo Bank Internet. After moving to Gualala he became part of the coastal community by joining Gualala Arts as its Publicity Coordinator, a position he enjoyed for 4 years. When the Point Arena Lighthouse Keeper’s Inc. were looking for a new Executive Director in 2015 he applied and has been happily doing that job ever since.

Admission is $5 per person.

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Mark Hancock

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with an (almost)  Full Sturgeon Moon Night Tour on Saturday, August 17.  Gates open at 7:30 p.m. and the tour starts around 8 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course!  An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. The tour is limited to 20 guests, so reservations are recommended in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. If the tour is canceled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac Some Native American tribes in what is now the northeastern United States called the August full Moon the Sturgeon Moon because they knew that the sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this full moon. Other tribes called August’s full moon the Full Green Corn Moon signaling that the corn was nearly ready for harvest. Other examples for August are Wheat Cut Moon (San Ildefonso, and San Juan), Moon When All Things Ripen (Dakota Sioux), and Blueberry Moon (Ojibwe).

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon and (almost) Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn't fall on that day.  Check our 

The Point Arena Lighthouse will celebrate National Lighthouse Day on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All visitors will enjoy free admission to the 

. Tower Tours will be available to guests 4 years and older for $5 per person. 

 was originally established in 1989 to “honor the beacon of light that, for hundreds of years, symbolized safety and security for ships and boats at sea,” according to the 

. Point Arena Lighthouse joins hundreds of lighthouses across America on August 7 in celebrating the day by offering free admission and special events.


More information is available by calling the Lighthouse at 877-725-4448, ext. 1, or 707-882-2809, ext. 1.

National Lighthouse Day

On Saturday, July 20 at 5 p.m. Michael Combs  will present "A 49er Looks Back" as part of the Lighthouse Lecture Series.  

Michael's family moved to Point Arena in 1949 not long after his seventh birthday. The history of Point Arena was under 100 years old at that time but already included lumber booms and busts - the last driven by the post-WW II construction boom - Prohibition rum running, illegal gambling, hot-springs resort, “dog-hole” schooners, and feats of engineering that enabled lumbering.

Many of his friends and acquaintances were part of Point Arena life before 1900 and he’ll attempt to tell some of their stories and place them in the context of past events. Since he participated in more recent history - 1949 to 1969 – lived in an abandoned high school building, worked in sawmills, hayfields, drove a work horse, helped build our house, milked a cow, he’ll try to add a flavor of small-time life lived on what he half seriously called the frontier of civilization.

After graduation from Point Arena High in 1960, Michael went to Humboldt State a year, Santa Rosa Junior College a year, then the Air Force for 21.5 years – married his high school sweetheart Marilynn (they had three sons) - and attended five other colleges while in the Air Force. He started as a Russian linguist, then became a Budget and Finance Officer and Internal Auditor. After 14 moves, an MBA and CPA, he retired from the Air Force and worked at Lockheed, Sunnyvale, for ten years, then on to some other jobs including Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, and Nummi, Fremont. Marilynn died of breast cancer in 1988 just after their 25th anniversary, and he chose his current wife Alice from a book and they married in 1989. He retired in 1998 and he and Alice moved to Gualala, which they love over all places, while traveling quite a bit and loving coming home. Every day they play ball with their doggie Radar on Cook’s Beach and remind themselves not to take their wonderful lives here on the coast for granted.

Admission is $5 per person.

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Michael Combs

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with an (almost)  Full Buck Moon Night Tour on Saturday, July 20.  Gates open at 8:30 p.m. and the tour starts around 9 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course!  An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. The tour is limited to 20 guests, so reservations are recommended in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. If the tour is canceled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the July full moon is called the Buck Moon since at this time, a buck’s antlers are in full growth mode. This full moon was also known as the Thunder Moon because thunderstorms are so frequent during this month. Other Native American tribes had their own names for this full moon including Ripe Corn Moon (Cherokee), Middle of Summer Moon (Ponca), and Moon When Limbs of Trees Are Broken by Fruit (Zuni).

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon and (almost) Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn't fall on that day.  Check our 

 for dates and times of all Lighthouse events.  For more information or to make a reservation, call the Lighthouse at 707-882-2809, ext. 1 at least three days before the date of the tour.


(almost) Full Buck Moon Night Tour

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with a Full Strawberry Moon Night Tour on Friday, June 21.  Gates open at 8:30 p.m. and the tour starts around 9 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course!  An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. The tour is limited to 20 guests, so reservations are recommended in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. If the tour is canceled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac this Full Moon got its name from the Algonquin tribes in eastern North America who knew it as a signal to gather the ripening fruit of wild strawberries. It has also been known as the Honey Moon, Mead Moon, and the Full Rose Moon in Europe.

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon and (almost) Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn't fall on that day.  Check our 

Full Strawberry Moon Night Tour

Stuart McDowell presents "Bill Owens: The Last Lighthouse Keeper" as part of the Lighthouse Lecture Series on Saturday, June 15 at 5 p.m.

Bill Owens was the last of a generation of light keepers along the California Coast before automation rendered them unnecessary. His career with the United States Lighthouse Service and Coast Guard spanned from 1931-1963 at four light stations from Point Conception, Point Sur, Point Arena, and finally to Point Cabrillo.

In 1982, McDowell and his wife interviewed Bill and Isabel Owens for three days. Stuart, full of questions, found in Owens a willing storyteller as he described his experiences at the lights across four decades: the Great Depression, World War II, plane crashes, and storms.

Owens had a wry wit about him that surfaced frequently, a stubbornness that was more endearing than annoying, and a pride in his thirty-two years of service that was obvious. He expressed them all as he told the McDowells about the operation of the lights, earthquakes, rum runners, Japanese submarines—and the less exciting, but more enduring, job of him and Isabel raising a family of six daughters at the stations, one season of life transitioning to another.

In writing 

, McDowell draws from those days of face-to-face interviews with Bill and Isabel—and later with their daughters—to craft a riveting portrait of a man, a family, and an era of lighthouse men never to be seen again.

Joining Stuart for Q & A at the end of the lecture will be Diana Owens Brown, one of the Owens daughters that grew up on the Light Station.  Admission is $5 per person. 

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Stuart McDowell

The upcoming Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit 

"The Point-Arena Stornetta Lands and Beyond"

 features photography by Scott Chieffo and jewelry by Ling-Yen Jones. The exhibit will display from May 18 through September 2.

In the approximately 20 years that he has been living on the Southern Mendocino County Coast, Scott has developed an intimate photographic relationship with its unique landscape. His images capture the subtle beauty of the coast and forests with a highly unique, “painterly” style that emphasizes the quiet solitude of these landscapes.

The focus for this exhibit will be some of Scott’s favorite images captured on The Point Arena-Stornetta Lands over the past several years. The dramatic coastal bluffs, sea arches, and incredible views found here offer seemingly unlimited photo opportunities for both serious and
casual photographers alike. The omnipresent Point Arena Lighthouse as a backdrop only adds to the magic of this extraordinary landscape.

In addition, Scott will be showing a small collection of images taken in other locations along the varied and beautiful coastline of Mendocino County, from Bowling Ball Beach north to Mendocino.

While the vast majority of his artistry takes place in the field, Scott’s technical mastery in the “digital darkroom” allows him to optimize each image digitally so that the finished print matches his original artistic vision. Unlike traditional printing methods, the metal prints Scott is showing for this exhibit are created by infusing dyes directly into a specially-coated sheet of aluminum. This technique creates a vibrant and durable print that is resistant to fading, moisture, and fingerprints.

For the past several years, Scott has shown his fine art photography prints at galleries and exhibits along the West Coast. His work is represented in private collections throughout the United States and beyond. Some of his earliest images taken on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands were used in the public relations effort to eventually have these lands added as the first
mainland-based unit of the California Coastal National Monument in 2014.

Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit - Scott Chieffo

The Point Arena Lighthouse joins the celebration of the 10th anniversary of its neighbor, the Point Arena – Stornetta Unit, being added to the California Coastal National Monument as part of the Celebrate the Coast event on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

 The Lighthouse will be hosting several information/activity tables including Mendonoma Whale & Seal Study, Marine Mammal Center (with its rescue truck), Acorn Partners in Education, Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries and the California Native Plant Society (CNPS). The Farm will be offering its cooked-to-order waffles (available as gluten-free), organic sweet and savory baked goods and Little Green Bean Point Arena Lighthouse blend organic free trade coffee for purchase. For the kids and kids at heart, Acorn Partners in Education will be offering “Trail Bingo” cards, fill them out by roaming the Light Station and the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands and get a prize. At 11:30 a.m. they will lead a family-friendly walk on the Lands. The Arena Cove Stewards will be offering their famous locally caught fish tacos from noon until sold out. From 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., the Lighthouse will host a special celebration of the 10th anniversary with guest speakers Congressman Jared Huffman, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California acting State Director Gordon Toevs, Friends of Point Arena-Stornetta Lands President Leslie Dahlhoff and other honored guests instrumental in protecting these special lands. Celebratory cupcakes from Franny’s Cup & Saucer, donated by the Point Arena Merchants Association (PAMA) will be available to all attendees after the celebration. At 2:30 p.m. the Dorothy King Young Chapter of the CNPS will lead a wildflower walk. Bokeya Pomo tribe member Isaac Rios and BLM Archaeologist Chris Lloyd will lead a native culture and local archaeology walk.

Admission to the Light Station and all events are free to all, and Tower Tours of the 115’ tall Lighthouse Tower are available for $5 per person 4 years old and over. A shuttle service will run from 9:30 to 4:30 linking City Hall, the College Field Station, the Discovery Trail’s northern entrance, and the Lighthouse. Park at City Hall or the Lighthouse and take the bus!

Celebrate the Coast

The Point Arena Lighthouse, first lit May 1st, 1870. Its brick and mortar tower featured ornate iron balcony supports and a large Keepers' residence with enough space to house four Light Keeper families. In April of 1906, a devastating earthquake struck the tower. The tower was damaged beyond repair and had to be completely deconstructed

The United States Lighthouse Service contracted with a San Francisco based company to build a new Lighthouse that could withstand any future earthquakes. The company built factory smokestacks, which accounts for the final design for the current Point Arena Lighthouse. The new design featured steel reinforcement rods encased in concrete, and was the first lighthouse to be built in this manner.

The new Lighthouse began operation on September 15, 1908, nearly 29 months after the quake. It stands 115 feet tall, and features a 1st Order Fresnel Lens, seven feet in diameter and weighing 4,700 pounds. The lens is made up of 258 hand-ground glass prisms all focused toward three sets of double bulls eyes. It is these bulls eyes that gave the Point Arena Lighthouse its unique “light signature” of two flashes every six seconds.

In 1984, a nonprofit organization called the Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. acquired the Light Station as part of a 25 year land lease from the Coast Guard and the Department of Transportation. In November of 2000, the nonprofit group became the official owners of the property due to their diligent historic preservation and educational efforts.

Join us Wednesday, May 1, 2024 to celebrate 154 years of lighting the way on the Pacific Coast with free admission to the Indoor Museum, Outdoor Museum and Light Station Store and free tower tours 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

154th Anniversary

The Point Arena Lighthouse is thrilled to present its annual Wind & Whale Celebration on Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission to the Light Station Indoor and Outdoor Museums is free, Tower Tours are available for guests 4 and over for $5 per person. Come stroll the 23 acres of grounds and watch the ocean for migrating gray whales, and wind and weather permitting the Berkeley Kite Wranglers will be flying their huge and colorful kites overhead. Scott & Tree Mercer of the Mendonoma Whale & Seal Study will be on hand to answer questions about the marine mammals that frequent our coast. Check out the Whale Trail interpretive panel next to the California Native Plant garden that showcases the marine mammals that frequent the waters that surround the Light Station. The Light Station Store will be offering sale prices on kites, whale related gifts and other items. Waffles, including gluten-free, and assorted organic baked goods from THE FARM will be available for purchase in the Fog Signal Building Museum. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road just north of Point Arena.

Formed at the turn of the Millennium, the Berkeley Kite Wranglers fly a collection of kites that contains nearly 30,000 square feet of giant creature kites - the largest of their kind in the world. The giant octopus kites have been a particularly popular sight in past years.   Each one is 20 feet wide and nearly 100 feet long. The pod, or ‘Octopile’ as the team likes to call it, flies in perfect formation. They have previously flown giant blue, humpback and killer whale kites as well as gecko, fish and cat kites. The Wranglers will fly from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Bring your own kite to fly or purchase one from a large selection of kites on sale in the Light Station Store, which will also have several whale themed items on sale.

The northern migration of the gray whales will be featuring the mothers and recently born calves making their way north from the birthing lagoons in Baja California back to their summer feeding grounds in the Bering Sea near Alaska. Watch these graceful gentle giants swim past the Light Station peninsula from the grounds or the Whale Watch Room in the Fog Signal Building, and chat with the Mercers about the details of this amazing migration.

The Wind & Whale Celebration is part of the Point Arena Merchants Association (PAMA) 

 which will be taking place in and around downtown Point Arena from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Special events, food, sales, live music and more will be offered throughout Point Arena. A free shuttle bus will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with several stops throughout the town and out to the Lighthouse.

For the most recent information on Lighthouse events call (707) 882-2809 ext. 1 or email Info.PALight@gmail.com

Wind & Whale Celebration

This Night Tour has been cancelled due to lack of minimum number of guests

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with an (almost) Full Worm Moon Night Tour on Saturday, March 23.  Gates open 7:30 p.m., tour starts around 8 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course! An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. Reservations must be made at least three days in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions, unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. In the event the tour is cancelled, guests will receive a full refund. 

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac in Native American and early Colonial times the Full Moon in March was called the Full Worm Moon. The ground begins to soften and earthworm casts reappear, inviting the return of robins. This has also been called the Sap Moon, as it marks the time when maple sap begins to flow and the annual tapping of maple trees begins. 

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon and (almost) Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn't fall on that day.  Check our 

 for dates and times of all Lighthouse events.  For more information or to make a reservation, call the Lighthouse at 707-882-2809, ext. 1 at least three days prior to date of the tour.

(almost) Full Worm Moon Night Tour CANCELLED

On Saturday, March 16 at 4 p.m. Katy Tahja will present "Orr Hot Springs and other county 'Hot' spots."  While the focus of the lecture is Orr Hot Springs attention will be given to the other mineral springs resorts in Mendocino County including those near Point Arena.

The public may not realize the importance these resorts played in the economic history of the county. Over 120 years ago they attracted tourists and still do to this day.

Where were they? Do they exist today? Are there hidden ones still out in the back country? What’s the oldest hot springs resort in the county? Come find answers at the lecture!

The Lighthouse Lecture Series is presented on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 4 p.m. (5 p.m. June - August).  Check our 

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Katy Tahja

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with a Full Snow Moon Night Tour on Saturday, February 24.  Gates open 5:30 p.m., tour starts around 6 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course!  An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. The tour is limited to 20 guests, so reservations are recommended in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions, unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. In the event the tour is cancelled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac the February full moon is called the Snow Moon due to the typically heavy snowfall during that month. On average, February is the USA’s snowiest month, according to data from the National Weather Service. Native American tribes and Colonial Americans used full moons as a way of tracking the seasons. Other February Full Moon names include: the “Shoulder to Shoulder Around the Fire Moon” (from the Wishram people of the Pacific Northwest), the “No Snow in the Trails Moon” (Zuni, of the Southwest), and the “Bone Moon” (Cherokee, of the Southeast). The Bone Moon meant that there was so little food that people gnawed on bones and ate bone marrow soup.

“Our Full Moon Night Tours often sell out well in advance, and guests always marvel at the moon rising over the hills east of Manchester or Point Arena just as we arrive at the top of the Lighthouse Tower,” says Mark Hancock, Point Arena Lighthouse Executive Director. “Don’t miss out on this unique coastal experience, make your reservations early!”

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn’t fall on that day, see their 

 for details. For more information or to make a reservation call the Lighthouse at 707-882-2809, ext. 1 at least 3 days prior to the tour.

Full Snow Moon Night Tour

On Saturday, February 17 at 4 p.m. Robin will share her recent travels to Russia as a citizen diplomat. Her stories will include the projects recently completed and the warmth and kindness received by people in many areas of Russia. Take a look at the communities they love, of food they enjoy, of their standard of living which might surprise you, and so much more. Pictures speak a thousand words so many photos of recent travels will be shared.

The presentation will include photos of Lake Baikal, which sits near Mongolia and has 20% of all the water on our planet earth, photos of Siberian grasslands and forests, horses and wildflowers, city spaces of Irkutsk, Anga, and Moscow and many photos of smiling people. Robin hopes to encourage us all to understand that people, even in Russia, have personal stories and personal views that are not always what the media portray. Everyday people in Russia have everyday lives with many of the same concerns, hopes, and dreams that we all share.

Robin has been connected to Fort Ross State Historic Park ( now retired) and to Russia for over 30 years. She was lead coordinator for the natural and cultural programming at Fort Ross working closely with academics, organizations, churches, and tribal members which created many deep rooted relationships that carry on today. She has presented throughout the United States and Russia and continues to do so even through this difficult time. She has traveled extensively in Russia often putting together groups of tribal members and /or academics to strengthen the understanding of our shared history with Russia. Robin recently traveled to Russia in 2019, 2021, 2022 and most recently in 2023 to continue the diplomacy that is so important in today's world.

The Lighthouse Lecture Series is presented on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 4 p.m. (5 p.m. June - August).  Check our 

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Robin Joy Wellman

The Point Arena Lighthouse Whale Watch Room Gallery welcomes Santa Rosa artist 

 as its next featured artist. The exhibit will remain on display through April 29.



The main focus of my collection for the exhibit is a variety of still life paintings. The very word “still” in my still life paintings is what I endeavor to avoid. My goal is to present a still life painting that goes beyond “still” and invites the viewer to experience the simple beauty of a piece of fruit, a vegetable, a pretty vase, and many times, a rather ordinary object.


I work primarily in oil on canvas and/or canvas panels. To achieve the depth of color I strive for in my paintings, I most often paint in layers. By painting in layers, a more time consuming process, I find I can achieve richer and more vibrant colors which are called for in my still life paintings. By using this layered approach I hope to give “life” to my still life painting.


Whatever subject I choose to paint, whether it’s a still life or landscape, I hope to relate to my viewer a sense of calm and beauty.





I knew at a young age that I wanted to be an artist. I had a very gifted aunt that I admired and set me on my artistic journey. Not unlike many daughters, nieces, wives and mothers, my journey to this place in time has taken many detours. I happily find that now I have more patience and a more seasoned sense of artistic perspective.


This artistic maturity has brought a depth to my painting that I would not have achieved otherwise. I have been fortunate, in this later part of my journey, to study with talented professional painters learning invaluable techniques from each one. Two of my instructors were amazing still life painters that mastered their own unique approach creating paintings of remarkable beauty. I’ve also studied with talented professionals that have alternative and different approaches to painting. Absorbing as much as possible from my studies I hope to present my own unique artistic identity.


Life has also allowed me to travel to many beautiful places and also visit many beautiful museums containing art produced by world famous Masters. These travels and visits have given me inspiration as I experience all the remarkable beauty and talent in our world. The journey to my artistic identity is, happily, a never ending journey.



Jewelry artist Ling-Yen Jones continues to display her work in the Whale Watch Room Gallery display cabinet in support of Lynn's exhibit.

Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit - Lynn Carlson

The Point Arena Lighthouse continues its popular Full Moon Night Tours with an (almost) Full Wolf Moon Night Tour on Saturday, January 27.  Gates open 7:00 p.m., Tour starts around 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature a special presentation about the Light Station’s history and technology, sweet and savory snacks accompanied by champagne or sparkling juice, capped off by a guided “Climb to the Top” tour of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast under the rising full moon – if the weather cooperates, of course! An etched Point Arena Lighthouse souvenir champagne flute is included in the price of admission for each participant, which is $50 per person. Reservations must be made at least three days in advance of the tour. While the tour is scheduled to coordinate with the full moon, weather conditions may preclude lunar visibility. The tours are conducted regardless of weather conditions, unless the Lighthouse Staff deems them to potentially cause safety issues for the guests. In the event the tour is cancelled, guests will receive a full refund. The Lighthouse is located at 45500 Lighthouse Road in Point Arena.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac in Native American and early Colonial times the Full Moon for January was called the Full Wolf Moon. It appeared when wolves howled in hunger outside the villages. Traditionally, the January Moon is also known as the Old Moon. To some Native American tribes, this was the Snow Moon, but most applied that name to the next Full Moon, in February.

The Lighthouse offers Full Moon Night Tours throughout the year on the Saturday closest to the full moon if it doesn’t fall on that day, see their 

 for details. For more information or to make a reservation call the Lighthouse at 707-882-2809, ext. 1 at least 3 days prior to the tour.  

(almost) Full Wolf Moon Night Tour

 is hosting “Storytelling at the Lodge” on Saturday, January 27 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in its Fireside Lounge. This free event is for children of all ages. Point Arena Lighthouse Executive Director Mark Hancock will read the children’s book 

"Tasi, the Lighthouse Dog – A True Story"

herself. Each family will receive a Tasi sticker, a free copy of the book with pawprint signing by Tasi and a family pass for a Tasi Tour of the Lighthouse. There will be snacks, art activities, a sing-a-long, a book reading of 

 and children can have their photos taken with Tasi by photographer Bill Oxford. The Sea Ranch Lodge is located at 60 Sea Walk Drive, The Sea Ranch.



"Tasi, the Lighthouse Dog – A True Story"

 was co-authored by Elisabeth Redon and Mark, and it tells the story of how Tasi was rescued by the 

, adopted by Hancock and his wife Laverne and became one of the “Lighthouse Guest Relations Managers” along with Arena Mina, the Lighthouse Cat. Redon also wrote 

“Arena Mina, the Lighthouse Cat – A True Story”

All three books are available in the Point Arena Lighthouse’s 

, along with Mina and Tasi stickers and stuffed animals.

For more information on the event contact Sara Lautenbach at 925-378-5234 or email info@ourseavista.com.

Storytelling at The Sea Ranch Lodge featuring Tasi

Scott Mercer presents Sea Otters and Kelp Forest Ecology as part of the Lighthouse Lecture Series on Saturday, December 16 at 4 p.m. in the Fog Signal Building Museum at the Point Arena Lighthouse.



Sea otters are termed keystone species and ecosystem engineers due to their profound impact on their environment. Keystone species circulate throughout their habitat and have a wide variety of prey which checks the population of many species.

In this lecture presentation Scott will explain that sea otters are termed “keystone species and ecosystem engineers” due to their profound impact on their environment. Keystone species circulate throughout their habitat and have a wide variety of prey which checks the population of many species.

“Sea otters are at a unique juncture in their evolutionary journey,” he notes   "They are more marine than terrestrial and more terrestrial than marine.” Sea otters are the only marine mammals without a blubber or fat layer.  Fur has been their salvation and their downfall. They rely on their incredibly thick pelage, or fur coats, to maintain their body temperature. In addition, each adult sea otter consumes one-third of its body weight daily.  In return, ecosystems with sea otters exhibit a 15-20% greater biodiversity.

In his presentation, Scott will discuss factors that determine the distribution and abundance of species. He will also discuss among many other subjects, such as their own natural history and how these German shepherd sized weasel relatives have shaped human economic and social history over their existence.

Scott began studying marine mammals in 1974 in Monterey Bay with an extended study of the feeding ecology of sea otters. After relocating to his native New England in 1978 he founded New England Whale Watch, Inc. as an opportunity to offer firsthand ocean life education to the public, and for him to collect data on the whales being observed. Scott was recently interviewed about his role as a pioneer in Atlantic Coast whale watching by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as part of a history of the whale watching industry in New England. He is also cofounder of the Brier Island Ocean Study, a research station in Nova Scotia, Canada. He has led offshore and overnight excursions to the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf, in the Caribbean, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, Canada. In 1982 he co-authored 

 and for 14 years he taught a marine mammal class for the University of New Hampshire’s Continuing Education, as well as science classes for the Southern Maine Community College.

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Scott Mercer

The Point Arena Lighthouse Light Station Store will celebrate the Point Arena Merchants Association Hometown Holidays event on Saturday, December 9 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. by offering free admission to the Indoor Museum, Outdoor Museum and Light Station Store (Tower Tours will be available for $5 per person 4 and up).  Do your holiday shopping in the Light Station Store and get big savings - the more you spend the more you save, up to 30% off your entire purchase!  Check out the sale table as well, with discounts up to 75% off.  Children 12 & under will receive a free gift bag and there will be free hot spiced cider and cookies for all.  We have stocked up with an amazing and varied array of merchandise including outerwear, home décor, jewelry, fine art, toys, books, holiday ornaments and more.  You are sure to find something for everyone on your holiday shopping list at the Light Station Store, and maybe treat yourself to a special gift as well!  

Hometown Holidays

The Point Arena Light Station Store wants Locals to do their Holiday shopping here!If you live from Timber Cove to Elk you get free admission to the Light Station and big discounts in the Light Station Store - the more you spend the more you save! Just show your ID at the Entry Kiosk for free admission to the Light Station and your discount card, and find unique gifts for everyone on your list.

8 Days of Christmas

Shari Goforth presents "We are All Whale Photographers: How community members can contribute important visual information to the knowledge and conservation of gray whales and other species in a rapidly changing climate."

Lighthouse Lecture Series Saturday, November 18 at 4 p.m.



Shari will share basic gray whale behavior, how to spot them, photo techniques, and simple equipment, such as a cell phone and binoculars or spotting scope, so that anyone can contribute valuable photos to the scientific knowledge of whales seen in our area. Community science, in our case photo documentation, is a vital part of the understanding and conservation of not only gray whales but other species, too.





Shari has spent her career life as a Registered Veterinary Technician, mostly in small companion animal medicine. She not only loved animals growing up, but she was also interested in their biology, behaviors, and conservation. Since moving to the coast nearly seven years ago she has pursued her passion for understanding Eastern Pacific Gray whales, photographing them and submitting photos to databases for identification. She developed her Mendonoma Gray Whale Photo ID Project, taking her first photo in 2018 with basic camera gear. Over time, she invested in high quality camera equipment and studied settings and techniques to improve photo resolution. Her gray whale interest-turned-obsession led her to recently travel to Monterey Bay, the Oregon coast, and one of the gray whale breeding and birthing lagoons, Laguna San Ignacio, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

The Point Arena Lighthouse is thrilled to welcome back the Moonlight Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos Bajo la Luna) on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This special community event is the presentation of the Pacific Community Charter High School (PCCHS) students and faculty and is free to all. The exhibit will remain on display through Tuesday, November 7.

The exhibit of student art inspired by the popular Día de los Muertos celebration will be displayed in the Buttress Room in the base of the Lighthouse Tower, and the students will be decorating the circular staircase that leads to the top of the Tower with paper marigolds, pressed tin art and other surprises and decorating the Lantern Room at the top of the Tower with student art. The displayed art is by students of PCCHS, Point Arena Elementary, Pacific Community Charter Elementary, Manchester Elementary and Horicon. There will be a Community Altar in the Whale Watch Room of the Fog Signal Building Museum watched over by a Catrina and the public is invited to bring their own offerings to add to the altar in memory of their loved ones. Action Network and PCCHS students will be offering free face painting to the children that attend the event.

In addition to the student art exhibit in the Lighthouse Tower the artist exhibiting in the Whale Watch Room Gallery (WWRG), Angelina Wilson, will be installing Día de los Muertos inspired art. She will continue to be the featured WWRG artist through Jan. 29, 2024 along with Ling-Yen Jones’ jewelry.  PCCHS students will also be selling hot chocolate, cinnamon tea, sweet tamales and small Mexican pastries to raise funds for Spring Field Study Trip. 

Some of the planned elements of the event include:

-  Día de los Muertos themed student art

-  Hot chocolate, cinnamon tea, sweet tamales and small Mexican pastries to raise funds for Spring Field Study Trip

Moonlight Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos Bajo la Luna)

Local artist Angelina Wilson will display her “Vintage Women” artwork as the Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit from November 1, 2023 through January 29, 2024.  This exhibit will feature both realism and cartoon style character paintings of women, and many will be Dia de los Muertos inspired art to surround the Community Altar and to complement the Moonlight Day of the Dead student art exhibit on display in the Lighthouse Tower.





I am Angelina Wilson, I am eighteen and have recently graduated in June of 2023. I love painting cartoon style characters, as well as realism portraits. I got started in art when I could pick up a pencil – then switched to painting animals and landscape scenery. Thanks to my Aunt A I got to join Gualala Arts’ art programs and learned to do Chinese lettering and bind my own books, as well as joining in the “Art in the Schools” exhibits from second grade to my junior year.

I really got started with my cartoon style paintings about three years ago. The style of Japanese film and television animation really caught my eye and deeply inspired me, as well as western cartoons from aspiring creators and larger animation studios. I watched different shows, and seeing the vivid colors and the peculiar designs made me want to be a part of creating similar images. Portraits make me feel as though my art is more important than my previous style choices. As though my artwork is seen more than my previous interests.

My biggest influences include Ross Tran, Vincent van Gogh, Noah Verrier, Kiptoe, Partycoffin, Andrea Allen, and Baz Luhrmann. All have very different styles, but all are beautiful to me. My future goals are to stay in Gualala and continue my job in the local Thai Kitchen to learn as much as I can, as well as getting into every single gallery in Gualala, Point Arena and possibly The Sea Ranch too, if there is anywhere to show my art there. And finally, to work with local artists and learn from them and to also start joint projects.

Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit - Angelina Wilson

Saturday, October 28 - Gates open 7 p.m., Tour around 7:30 p.m.

According to the Old Farmer’s it is believed that this full moon came to be called the full Hunter’s Moon because it signaled the time to go hunting in preparation for the cold winter ahead. Animals are beginning to fatten up ahead of winter, and since the farmers had recently cleaned out their fields under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily see the deer and other animals that had come out to root through the remaining scraps (as well as the foxes and wolves that had come out to prey on them). The earliest use of the term “Hunter’s Moon,” cited in the Oxford English Dictionary, is from 1710. Some sources suggest that other names for the Hunter’s Moon are the Sanguine or Blood Moon, either associated with the blood from hunting or the color of the changing autumn leaves. The names of the moon are most often related to natural signs of the season or to activities that were done at this time of year. Some other Native American names for the October full moon include Drying Rice Moon (Dakota), Falling Leaves Moon (Anishinaabe), Freezing Moon (Ojibwe), Ice Moon (Haida) and Migrating Moon (Cree).


Full Hunter's Moon Night Tour

Scott & Tree Mercer present "The Value of Whales and the Threats Climate Change Poses to Their Survival."

Lighthouse Lecture Series Saturday, October 21 at 4 p.m.



Whales have always had a major influence on climate. They are closely connected to the removal and sequestration of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as well as the production of oxygen. We will explain and illustrate the vital role whales play in maintaining a healthy and stable marine ecosystem which in turn, is beneficial to all life on earth. We will also show how the condition of our changing climate is presenting challenges to the survival of many whale species.





Scott began studying marine mammals in 1974 in Monterey Bay with an extended study of the feeding ecology of sea otters.After relocating to his native New England in 1978 Scott founded New England Whale Watch, Inc. as an opportunity to offer first hand ocean life education to the public, and for him to collect data on the whales being observed.Scott was recently interviewed, for his role as a pioneer in Atlantic Coast whale watching by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as part of a history of the whale watching industry in New England.He is also cofounder of the Brier Island Ocean Study, a research station in Nova Scotia, Canada.He has led offshore and overnight excursions to the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf, in the Caribbean, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, Canada. In 1982 Scott coauthored 

 and for 14 years he taught a marine mammal class for the University of New Hampshire’s Continuing Education, as well as science classes for the Southern Maine Community College.

Tree has a Masters Degree in Science Education, and taught Biology, Life Science, and Physics in Long Island, New York for 38 years, as well as coaching three varsity level sports for as many years. Tree coordinates and organizes the data she and Scott collect. She designs their power point lectures for in-person and ZOOM lectures, as well as their research presentations at conferences.

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Scott & Tree Mercer

Saturday, September 30 - Gates open 7:30 p.m., Tour around 8 p.m.

The Harvest Moon is the moon that falls nearest the autumnal equinox. This full Moon provides the most light at the time when it’s needed most—to complete the harvest. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac full moon names were used by early Colonial Americans who learned the names from the local Native Americans. Indigenous people did not record time by using the months of the Julian or Gregorian calendar. Many tribes kept track of time by observing the seasons and lunar months, although there was much variability. The September full moon is also called the Full Corn Moon because it traditionally corresponds with the time of harvesting corn. It is also called the Barley Moon because this is the time to harvest and thresh ripened barley. Some other traditional September Full Moon names used by Native Americans include “Moon When the Plums Are Scarlet” (Lakota Sioux), “Moon When the Deer Paw the Earth” (Omaha Native Americans), and “Moon When the Calves Grow Hair” (Sioux Native Americans).


The Lighthouse Lecture Series presents Point Arena Lighthouse Executive Director Mark Hancock presenting "153 Years of Lighting the Way" on Saturday, August 19 at 5 p.m. in the Fog Signal Building Museum.  This lecture will showcase the fascinating history and technology of the 153 year old Light Station, the three Lighthouse Towers that have been on the Station since it was established in 1869, the Light Keepers and their families, the light sources used to guide ships at sea, the geology of the Light Station peninsula and more.  Admission is $5 per person and the lecture is scheduled to last about an hour, with Q&A at the end.

The Point Arena Lighthouse Celebrates National Lighthouse Day!




The Point Arena Lighthouse will celebrate 

 on Monday, August 7, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All visitors will enjoy free admission to the 

. Tower Tours will be available to guests 6 years and older for $5 per person. 

. Point Arena Lighthouse joins hundreds of lighthouses across America on August 7 in celebrating the day by offering free admission and special events.


More information is available by calling the Lighthouse at 877-725-4448, ext. 1 or 707-882-2809, ext 1.

Saturday, July 1 - Gates open 8:30 p.m., Tour around 9 p.m.



According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac the July full moon is called the Buck Moon since at this time a buck’s antlers are in full growth mode. This full moon was also known as the Thunder Moon because thunderstorms are so frequent during this month. Other Native American tribes had their own names for this full moon include Ripe Corn Moon (Cherokee), Middle of Summer Moon (Ponca) and Moon When Limbs of Trees Are Broken by Fruit (Zuni).


As of Friday, June 30 we have 14 reservations.  We will accept up to 20 reservations for this tour.   We will accept walk ins the night of the tour if there are still open spots, but strongly suggest making advance reservations by phone at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 or in person as soon as possible if you want to ensure you get a spot on this tour. 




Saturday, June 3 - Gates open 8:30 p.m., Tour around 9 p.m.


According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac this Full Moon got its name from the Algonquin tribes in eastern North America who knew it as a signal to gather the ripening fruit of wild strawberries. It has also been known as the Honey Moon, Mead Moon, and the Full Rose Moon in Europe.


Coast Highway Artists Collective (CHAC) artists Ling-Yen Jones, Chris Grassano and Barbara Fast are the featured artists in the Whale Watch Room Gallery in the Fog Signal Building at the Point Arena Light Station. The exhibit will remain on display through August 3, 2023.




Ling-Yen is a jeweler working mainly in silver, semi-precious stone, and pearls. Her style ranges from the traditional to the modern and is completely unique. All of her pieces are individually handmade and are therefore one-of-a-kind or in small series with repeating motifs. She trained with David Laplantz at Humboldt State University, at Monterey Peninsula College, and various Mendocino Art Center Workshops and assistantships. Jones has also exhibited at Point Arena-CityArt, the Pacific Grove Art Center, Gualala Art Center and the Mendocino Art Center.




I define jewelry as creations which are useful, artistic, symbolic, identifying, and an expression of personal ideas. In my earring line some of the motifs I use are leaves, birds, and windows. When these elements and others are integrated into a piece, they can represent new beginnings, changes, hope, and further growth in oneself. The materials that I enjoy using most are sterling silver, copper, gold, and pearls, and semiprecious stones. My intentions for each one-of-a-kind pieces are that it is clean looking, distinctive, and artistically rendered.




She attended Montclair State College where she majored in Fine Art. After graduating she worked in a variety of mediums including acrylics, oils, glass mosaics, copper relief and pen and ink. After moving to San Francisco she earned a BFA in Illustration. She now lives in the small town of Cazadero, which is part of the Russian River area and she takes some of her inspiration from the majestic coast redwoods. Her goal is to blend realism, imagination, emotion, and design to communicate a personal vision that touches the universal.




I will be displaying oil paintings inspired by my many visits to the coast. It is with gratitude and joy that I exhibit my oil paintings celebrating the diverse nature of our beautiful North Coast. I have enjoyed staying at the Point Arena Lighthouse lodgings and visiting the grounds many times. The paintings I am showing have been inspired by these visits. I have always loved drawing and exploring nature. My earliest subject matter was my dog and the flowers in my backyard. The beauty of the physical world in all its diversity inspires me, whether it is the texture of a feather, the richness and harmony of the color of a flower petal or the rhythm of a waving branch in the wind.




Barbara is a retired Pediatric Surgeon with 30 years in the profession. She attended University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine and completed post-graduate training in general surgery and then pediatric surgery. After moving to Point Arena she observed that “there was a cute building in downtown Point that would be perfect for an art gallery.” With Ling-Yen Jones she founded the Coast Highway Artists Collective in 2012. Since then she has enjoyed working in a variety of artistic mediums including embellished hard shell gourds, felting and basket making.




I am not a professional artist, but I enjoy working with many different materials to satisfy my need for creativity. I particularly like to work with materials that reflect the world around us. In my ribbed basket I used reed, coiled sea grass and an antler shed by one of our local deer. These materials seem most appropriate for an exhibit at the Point Arena Light Station which is a Mendonoma treasure.

Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit - Current

Keeping this stationary ship on the ocean in great condition for all our visitors is a constant challenge, but one which we have managed to meet. There have been many significant remodel and maintenance projects completed since the last Light Station Journal:

Light Station maintenance staff Jeff Wyrick and Mark Hancock completed the Bookkeeper’s Room remodel project after
numerous delays.  This fully Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant studio hosted its first guests in May 2021 and has been a popular rental since

Painted the complete interior of Assistant Keeper’s House 2, installed new carpeting, laminate flooring, draperies and hardware, living room furniture and bathroom mirrors and light fixtures

Completed a redesign of the Keeper’s Room which included all new furniture, appliances, interior paint, acoustic panels, lighting and reorientation of all furnishings to better showcase the incredible views

Installed special acoustic panels in Head Keeper’s House primary bedroom

Decorated Head Keeper’s House living room with original paintings by Sea Ranch artist Diane Rasmussen and bedrooms with photography donated by Scott Sewell

Decorated Keeper’s Apartment with photography donated by Paul Kozal

Architect Mark Quattrocchi donated his time and expertise and worked with volunteer Laverne Hancock, Architect Jon Stong (who Mark brought onto the project) and Executive Director Mark Hancock to develop the design for the Maintenance Garage remodel.  Jon then   created plan drawings for use in permit application and construction.  Plans include offices for Mark and Tom, a commercial grade laundry and supply storage room for Housekeeping, an ADA compliant employee restroom, new rollup garage door and a new driveway to address standing water and drainage issues.  Plans and permit application submitted to Mendocino County Planning & Building in April and approved December 22.  Construction began March 6, 2023.   

Dunn Right Painting of Ukiah completed the following projects:

Power washed the Lighthouse Tower and the seven vacation cottages and studios

Painted the exterior of the Lighthouse Tower
Mitigated the rust, sealed and painted the Lantern Room catwalk

Stripped, ground off the existing coating and painted the Watch Room balcony floor

Stripped, ground off the existing coating and painted the Buttress Room floors

Painted siding, soffits, eaves, trim and doors on the seven vacation cottages and studios

Superior Pump & Drilling completely rebuilt the well system, including all new electrical boxes and wiring, chlorine injection system, well controls, piping, pressure gauges and tank level monitors

Guy & Ellen Kibbe installed new electrical panel and breakers in the Garden Shed. They corrected electrical issues in the Head Keeper’s House, Keeper’s Room and Bookkeeper’s Room, and they rewired those units so that the Keeper’s Room and Bookkeeper’s Room have their own dedicated panels

Carl Rittiman & Associates and Septic Skeptic inspected the septic system and determined the 2nd tanks in line should be abandoned and filled, the 1st tanks rerouted to the leach field and new distribution box and filters be installed.Septic Skeptic and their excavator will survey the entire system to ensure that this work can be done.

Replaced sewer line from Head Keeper’s House to septic system sewer lateral and installed 2 way cleanouts.

There are both short and long term projects in our maintenance master plan:

Complete remodel of the Maintenance Garage

Install new roof and gutters on public restrooms

Replace all exterior electrical conduit with non-ferrous piping

Replace exterior propane gas lines in vacation rentals

Install propane tank and piping outside the Fog Signal Building, install propane stove in the building

Brunsing & Associates to perform a geotechnical survey of the Light Station and prepare an engineering geologic investigation report providing the following (Board member Samara Freeman is pursuing grant funding for this project):

A description of the geology of the Point Arena peninsula, including faults, landslides, rock bedding and areas of severe erosion

A description of the geology of the sea caves

Geologic hazard assessment of the sea caves

A description of mitigation measures that may be needed in specific areas based upon BAI's experience with similar projects

Install interpretive panels at all features of the Outdoor Museum

Install new Lighthouse billboards on Highway 1

Install new entry billboard that includes information on our non-profit ownership of the Light Station

Restripe all handicapped parking spaces following ADA requirements

Strip and paint the Fog Signal Building floors

Install retracting steps at the fire escape windows in the Fog Signal Building

Remove all metal items from the “bone yard” behind the water tanks

Continue to remove non-native ice plant from the grounds, particularly in the Coastal Prairie area near the Tower and behind the Fog Signal Building

Repair/replace exterior siding and trim dry rot on all houses

Enclose firewood storage units behind cottages

Enclose tankless water heaters and exterior electrical boxes

Remodel Assistant Keeper’s House 3.Current plan is to create a 2 bedroom, 1 bath cottage with full kitchen, dining room and living room and create a 1 bedroom, 1 bath studio with kitchenette.This will bring our number of rentals up the eight

Remodel Assistant Keeper’s House 2.Current plan is to remodel this unit using the same plans that were used for our first remodel of Assistant Keeper’s House 4 with changes based on what we learned from that remodel

Repave the Light Station roadways, lodging parking pads and visitor parking area at the Tower and Fog Signal Building

Install weather station on the Light Station and make the data available on our website, other weather websites and the NOAA network of weather stations

Replace current gasoline powered golf cart used by Maintenance staff with electric utility vehicle

Pursue grant funding for a whale monitoring camera system that would be installed outside the Fog Signal Building and an interactive software application that would provide visitors with data on the whales and other marine mammals that it records passing by the Light Station

Purchase and install new Knox box on stand in front of security fence

Install solar panels and backup electrical system

Run electricity and water out to Gazebo area

Build enclosure for dumpsters to protect from high wind blowovers

Evaluate existing cypress trees and develop a plan for replacement as required

Construct replica of the “car barn” that was on the property in between the 1930s and 1950s between the homes and the Gazebo Peninsula as an event center, storage of all maintenance equipment and materials, overflow/large inventory storage for Light Station Store and additional lodging units

Celebrate the Coast

Featured Posts

154th Anniversary

Celebrate the Coast

Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit - Scott Chieffo

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Stuart McDowell

Full Strawberry Moon Night Tour

(almost) Full Buck Moon Night Tour

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Michael Combs

National Lighthouse Day

(almost) Full Sturgeon Moon Night Tour

Lighthouse Lecture Series - Mark Hancock

(almost) Full Harvest Moon Night Tour

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154th Anniversary

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Lighthouse Lecture Series - Mark Hancock

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Lighthouse Lecture Series - Stuart McDowell

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