Point Conception Lighthouse

End of an Era

previous activity

Reflection

In 1973, the Point Conception Lighthouse was fully automated, ending the need for a full-time keeper. This transition marked the close of a historic chapter when lighthouse keepers lived and worked in remote, often harsh conditions to keep the beacon operational.

Over the decades, the keepers at Point Conception played a vital role in ensuring the safety of ships navigating this treacherous stretch of the California coast. Their dedication, often carried out in solitude and under challenging weather, helped prevent countless shipwrecks and saved many lives.

The lighthouse’s original First Order Fresnel lens, a remarkable feat of 19th-century engineering, was eventually removed and carefully relocated to the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum in 2013. Today, the lens stands as a powerful symbol of maritime history and the technological innovations that once guided sailors through perilous waters.

In 2012, the United States Coast Guard asked SBMM to submit a proposal to display the lens.
The Fresnel lens from Point Conception Lighthouse was moved to the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum in 2013.
Expert lampists moved the lens to the museum.
The lens was transported using a combination of crane, helicopter, and truck to safely move it to the museum. The transport process was complex due to the lens’s size and weight (approximately 6,000 pounds), and the need to avoid damage during its relocation.
Once the lens arrived at the museum, it underwent detailed cleaning and reassembly, a process that ensured the lens would be preserved in its original state for public display.
This effort was a major undertaking that involved careful planning and expertise to ensure the lens' preservation while highlighting its historical significance.