This Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit features present and past winners of the 

California Ocean and Coastal Amateur Photography Contest

The exhibit will remain on display from December 14 through February 3, 2025.  Jewelry by Ling-Yen Jones continues to be on display as well.

California is in many ways defined by its coast and ocean, which provide us with enjoyment, beauty, solace, and adventure. The 

 pays tribute to these special places, honors the diversity of wildlife they support, and celebrates our ability to access and enjoy these special places. This exhibit features a selection of prize-winning images from the contest over the years, including winners from 25th annual contest that was held during the summer of 2024. The recent contest received 963 submissions from photographers across California. A judging panel consisting of professional photographers and naturalists unanimously selected winners and honorable mentions.

This annual contest is sponsored by the 

, which was established by voter initiative in 1972 to provide long-term protection for California’s 1,100-mile coastline. The Coastal Commission’s 

 provides opportunities for the public to learn about and connect with California’s remarkable coast and ocean. 

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

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

Saturday, December 6 - Gates open at 6 p.m., Tour around 6:30 p.m.

Experience a spectacular nighttime 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, December’s full Moon is most commonly known as the 

—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 

 (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.

All proceeds go toward supporting and maintaining 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 before the event date. 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 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.

Cancellation policy: No refunds are given if you cancel your reservation three days or less before the event. Tours will be canceled if less than eight (8) guests sign up before three (3) days before the tour. You will receive a full refund if the event is canceled. Please call our Reservation Desk at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 three (3) days before the tour to confirm the event is happening as scheduled.

(almost) Full Cold Moon Night Tour

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

Experience a spectacular nighttime 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!

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.

All proceeds go toward supporting and maintaining 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 before the event date. 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 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.

Cancellation policy: No refunds are given if you cancel your reservation three days or less before the event. Tours will be canceled if less than eight (8) guests sign up before three (3) days before the tour. You will receive a full refund if the event is canceled. Please call our Reservation Desk at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 three (3) days before the tour to confirm the event is happening as scheduled.

(almost) Full Beaver Moon Night Tour

Saturday, October 4 - Gates open at 6 p.m., Tour around 6:30 p.m.

Experience a spectacular nighttime 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, 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. 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).

All proceeds go toward supporting and maintaining 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 before the event date. 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 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.

Cancellation policy: No refunds are given if you cancel your reservation three days or less before the event. Tours will be canceled if less than eight (8) guests sign up before three (3) days before the tour. You will receive a full refund if the event is canceled. Please call our Reservation Desk at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 three (3) days before the tour to confirm the event is happening as scheduled.

Full Hunter's Moon Night Tour

Saturday, September 6 - Gates open at 6 p.m., Tour around 6:30 p.m.

Experience a spectacular nighttime 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!

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).


All proceeds go toward supporting and maintaining the Lighthouse Tower, Museum, and grounds. Thank you for your generous support, Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. 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 before the event date. 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 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.

Cancellation policy: No refunds are given if you cancel your reservation three days or less before the event. Tours will be canceled if less than eight (8) guests sign up before three (3) days before the tour. You will receive a full refund if the event is canceled. Please call our Reservation Desk at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 three (3) days before the tour to confirm the event is happening as scheduled.

(almost) Full Harvest Moon Night Tour

Saturday, August 9 - Gates open at 8 p.m., Tour around 8:30 p.m.

Experience a spectacular nighttime 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 supporting and maintaining the Lighthouse Tower, Museum, and grounds. Thank you for your generous support, Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. 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 before the event date. 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 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.

Cancellation policy: No refunds are given if you cancel your reservation three days or less before the event. Tours will be canceled if less than eight (8) guests sign up before three (3) days before the tour. You will receive a full refund if the event is canceled. Please call our Reservation Desk at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 three (3) days before the tour to confirm the event is happening as scheduled.

Full Sturgeon Moon Night Tour

Saturday, July 12 - Gates open at 9:30 p.m., Tour around 10 p.m.

Experience a spectacular nighttime 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, 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).

All proceeds go toward supporting and maintaining the Lighthouse Tower, Museum, and grounds. Thank you for your generous support, Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. 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 before the event date. 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 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.

Cancellation policy: No refunds are given if you cancel your reservation three days or less before the event. Tours will be canceled if less than eight (8) guests sign up before three (3) days before the tour. You will receive a full refund if the event is canceled. Please call our Reservation Desk at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 three (3) days before the tour to confirm the event is happening as scheduled.

(almost) Full Buck Moon Night Tour 

Friday, July 11 - Gates open at 9 p.m., Tour around 9:30 p.m.

Experience a spectacular nighttime 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, 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).

All proceeds go toward supporting and maintaining the Lighthouse Tower, Museum, and grounds. Thank you for your generous support, Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. 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 before the event date. 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 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.

Cancellation policy: No refunds are given if you cancel your reservation three days or less before the event. Tours will be canceled if less than eight (8) guests sign up before three (3) days before the tour. You will receive a full refund if the event is canceled. Please call our Reservation Desk at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 three (3) days before the tour to confirm the event is happening as scheduled.

Full Buck Moon Night Tour 

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

Experience a spectacular nighttime 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 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.

All proceeds go toward supporting and maintaining the Lighthouse Tower, Museum, and grounds. Thank you for your generous support, Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. 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 before the event date. 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 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.

Cancellation policy: No refunds are given if you cancel your reservation three days or less before the event. Tours will be canceled if less than eight (8) guests sign up before three (3) days before the tour. You will receive a full refund if the event is canceled. Please call our Reservation Desk at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 three (3) days before the tour to confirm the event is happening as scheduled.

(almost) Full Strawberry Full Moon Night Tour

Saturday, May 10 - Gates open at 7:30 p.m., Tour around 8 p.m.

Experience a spectacular nighttime 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, May’s Flower Moon name should be no surprise; flowers spring forth across North America in abundance this month! “Flower Moon” has been attributed to Algonquin peoples. May’s Moon was also called the “Month of Flowers”

All proceeds go toward supporting and maintaining the Lighthouse Tower, Museum, and grounds. Thank you for your generous support, Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. 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 before the event date. 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 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.

Cancellation policy: No refunds are given if you cancel your reservation three days or less before the event. Tours will be canceled if less than eight (8) guests sign up before three (3) days before the tour. You will receive a full refund if the event is canceled. Please call our Reservation Desk at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 three (3) days before the tour to confirm the event is happening as scheduled.

(almost) Full Flower Moon Night Tour

 features photography by Scott Sewell.  Opening reception will be Saturday, May 10 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.  The exhibit will remain on display from May 10 through September 1.  Jewelry by Ling-Yen Jones continues to be on display as well.



The center of this effort was the Lighthouse – that “Candle in the Wind” at the end of Point Arena. Over numerous trips, I shot the tower at night, at dawn and at sunset in all kinds of weather. The light, surf and conditions were ever changing which challenged and refined my skills. Each day was an adventure and often completely different from the day before – particularly in winter. All this allowed me to develop an approach, a style and technique which made me into the photographer I am today. I hope you enjoy my work as much as I have enjoyed producing it.





I have always been attracted to coastal and mountain landscapes. My childhood
vacations were largely spent on the north coast of California and in the High Sierra. In college, I discovered Ansel Adams and his “Yosemite and the Range of Light” and was enthralled by his visions of Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra. As an adult, I hiked the backcountry and strolled the coastal trails over the years in complete awe, but, sadly, most of those memories ended up stored in my mind and not in my camera. After a once in a lifetime cruise to Antarctica, however, something changed. I found that my work was competitive with the professional photographers aboard and received widespread praise from fellow photographers and passengers. Upon my return, I upgraded my equipment and decided to go to the Mendocino Coast in search of landscapes which would suit my newly minted interest and vision, allow me stretch my creative legs and teach me how to better translate what I saw in my mind to finished photography.



Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit - Scott Sewell

The Point Arena Lighthouse was first lit on 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 of 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 Thursday, May 1, 2025, to celebrate 155 years of lighting the way on the Pacific Coast with free admission to the Indoor Museum, Outdoor Museum, and Light Station Store. Tower tours are available to anyone 4 years and older for a $5 fee. 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

155th Anniversary

The Point Arena Lighthouse is thrilled to present its annual Wind & Whale Celebration on Saturday, April 19 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) Almost Fringe Festival 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 and Whale Celebration

Saturday, April 12 - Gates open at 7 p.m., Tour around 7:30 p.m.

Experience a spectacular nighttime 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 April’s full Moon often corresponded with the early springtime blooms of a certain wildflower native to eastern North America: 

—commonly called creeping phlox or moss phlox—which also went by the name “moss pink.” This full Moon is called the “Pink” Moon thanks to this seasonal association!

All proceeds go toward supporting and maintaining the Lighthouse Tower, Museum, and grounds. Thank you for your generous support, Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. 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 before the event date. 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 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.

Cancellation policy: No refunds are given if you cancel your reservation three days or less before the event. Tours will be canceled if less than eight (8) guests sign up before three (3) days before the tour. You will receive a full refund if the event is canceled. Please call our Reservation Desk at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 three (3) days before the tour to confirm the event is happening as scheduled.

Full Pink Moon Night Tour

Saturday, March 15 - Gates open 8 p.m., Tour around 8:30 p.m.

Experience a spectacular nighttime 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 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. 

All proceeds go toward supporting and maintaining 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 before the event date. 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 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.

Cancellation policy: No refunds are given if you cancel your reservation three days or less before the event. Tours will be canceled if less than eight (8) guests sign up before three (3) days before the tour. You will receive a full refund if the event is canceled. Please call our Reservation Desk at 877-725-4448 ext. 1 or 707-882-2809 ext. 1 three (3) days before the tour to confirm the event is happening as scheduled.

(almost) Full Worm Moon Night Tour

 features photography by Cindy Morey.  The exhibit will remain on display from February 22 through May 4.  Jewelry by Ling-Yen Jones continues to be on display as well.

It is my greatest pleasure to be able to share what I see through a lens! The Northern CA coast is a photographer’s dream! It’s the lighting, the weather, certain angles and depths along with the intimate details that make a photo a work of art. I seek these hidden gems … for it is the littlest things that thrill me and sometimes leave me speechless! With its wide diversity of flora and fauna, its whispering fog that zooms across the landscape like a ghost, and the rugged
bluffs that expand the views of unique rock formations, unlimited treasures abound. Looking at the unique and intricate designs of nature through a lens has changed my life forever! If you look at a flower, can you see all the tentacles and crevices deep inside or watch a flower bloom from a small bud into a spectacular blossom? Being around animals of all kinds is also one of the highlights of my life. Seeing an eyelash on an elephant, the color of a new born harbor seal pup, or the depth of the stripes on a zebra inspires me! Spending a lot of time walking the beaches of Mendocino County with my beloved dog bodhi, I love to photograph whatever the ocean has to offer.

I have lived in the Manchester CA/Irish Beach community for over 20 years. After traveling to Africa, Asia and Europe, my hobby for photography has grown into a much bigger part of my life. Being an avid hiker and kayaker takes me to unique and awe-inspiring places where you can see nature in its purest form. Working with nature photographers and other creative artists has given me some new perspectives on how to work behind the lens and how to create new ways of seeing the world. My photographs can be done on metal, canvas or framed on photographic paper in antique or unusual frames. Connecting with someone’s photographs is as intimate and personal and as diverse as nature itself. My work can be found at the Point Arena Lighthouse, the Coast Highway Artists Collective in Point Arena and the Redwood Coast Medical Services Center in Gualala. I also exhibit my work in the annual Mendocino County Coast Studio Tour.

Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit - Cindy Morey

All PALKI members are cordially invited to attend the annual Members Meeting on Saturday, February 1, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. which will be held virtually using Zoom. Zoom connection information is as follows:

     PALKI Annual Members Zoom Meeting 


     https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88412673452?pwd=jWK9FlbakTfbovb6eFObYIoRsldfFy.1

 

Meeting ID: 884 1267 3452 Passcode: 495316

The agenda for this meeting is as follows:

Welcome and President’s Report

Announcement of Board of Directors election results

Q & A

This year we will again use an online voting system for electing the three (3) open Board seats. If you are a PALKI member you have been sent an email that will allow you to vote electronically up to the day of the annual Members Meeting. If we do not have your email, you have been sent a paper ballot to return to us with your selection.

There are currently three (3) incumbent Board members that are running for three (3) open seats with 2 year terms. The candidate statements are shown below.





I have been a 30+ year resident on the coast. Although my current academic pursuits have necessitated me being away more than at home for the past couple of years, I continue to value and enjoy my participation as a board member of PALKI. We’ve been very fortunate to have Mark Hancock and Tom Birdsell steering the ship for the past several years. It has been very gratifying to see the cottages, one by one, being remodeled; other sculptural stone-work projects being added to the grounds- and the Veteran’s memorial in the works. Fellow board member, Samara Freeman, has reinvigorated efforts to develop programs that will also benefit the community, such as educational outreach. She’s been instrumental in securing funding from grants. We hope to get the Watershed program (that I commissioned prior to COVID) off the shelf and into manifestation in the next year or so. It has been my privilege to serve on the board over the years, and would appreciate your support to continue to do so. Thank you.





The enduring power and beauty of the Point Arena Lighthouse drew our family in. We are lifetime members and have enjoyed staying on site and exploring the area. I am honored to have served on the PALKI board for the last 3 years learning the history, what it takes to operate the property and the challenges facing the lighthouse. I want to see the Lighthouse and surrounding land continue to thrive, grow and support the local community for years to come. I have contributed to the Lighthouse by formalizing in writing the criteria for the scholarship program and developing a spreadsheet to capture the wealth of ideas the board has for long-term sustainability of the lighthouse. In partnership with Mark, I wrote 2 different grant applications, and was successful in one. PALKI received $63,000 from the Coastal Conservancy to complete a detailed survey of the sea caves on the peninsula to understand the potential impact on the buildings and property that was completed. I would love to continue to sit on the Board and contribute developing detailed concepts for alternative funding sources including grants to ensure the long-term sustainability of the magnificent Point Arena Lighthouse.




It has been an honor to serve on the PALKI Board of Directors for almost seven years and a privilege to serve as the President - now, Chairman - of the Board for the past three.

The lighthouse Management and Staff - the people who do the 

 work - continue to address unexpected challenges, improve operations and the physical plant, and host a record number of visitors.These accomplishments, and the resilience and creativity they require, have led to the strongest financial position in PALKI's history.Lodging, admissions, tower tours, and the Gift Store are all major contributors, even with the post-COVID softening of tourism along the coast.

Looking ahead, we are committed to making major investments to the lodgings and physical infrastructure.While opportunities abound for other improvement projects, we must continue to be mindful to not bite off more than we can chew.I want to continue to contribute to the governance of the corporation, helping with strategic decision-making, and ensuring PALKI's continued financial stability.

Among the many non-profit organizations that serve the coast, none offer the unique combination of history, culture, art, and location that characterizes the Point Arena Lighthouse.I would be honored to continue to support PALKI for another two-year term

Whale Watch Room Gallery Exhibit - CA Coastal Conservancy Photo Contest Winners

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