Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc.

Today is the 151st anniversary of the light first being lit at the top of the original Point Arena Lighthouse! Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. (PALKI) is so proud to be the caretakers of this iconic landmark on the Mendocino coast. If you haven't already done so, pick up the April 30 Independent Coast Observer and enjoy the special 150th + 1 section all about the Light Station. The wildflowers are blooming all around our 23 acre Outdoor Museum, the harbor seals are pupping out all around our peninsula and the moms and babies gray whales are steaming past on their way to the Bering Sea. Come out and celebrate our sesquicentennial + 1 throughout 2021!

The Light Station Store, Indoor Museum and Outdoor Museum will be closed on Monday, April 5, 2021 for filming of a television series. We plan to reopen at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 6.

JOIN THE POINT ARENA LIGHT STATION’S CLUB 150! The Point Arena Light Station #496 was officially established on September 30, 1869. Construction of the first Tower was completed in April 1870. The light was first lit May 1, 1870. In 2021, May 1st will mark 151 years of the Lighthouse lighting the way on the Mendocino coast. We had planned several celebratory events in 2020 to mark this historic milestone, but sadly the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of them all. ...Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. (PALKI), the non-profit organization that owns, maintains and manages the Light Station, is hoping that it can present some 150th + 1 events to celebrate this special place and its impressive history. To help fund these events and the preservation of the Light Station for generations to come PALKI has created Club 150. For a $150 donation you can join Club 150 and receive the following: - Your name on a brass plaque mounted on the Club 150 redwood burl in the Buttress Room of the Lighthouse Tower - 150th Anniversary T-shirt - 150th Anniversary cloisonné pin - 150th Anniversary embroidered patch The first 20 Club 150 members who join by April 24 will also receive an invitation to the special 150th + 1 celebration at the Light Station on Saturday, May 1, starting at 6:30 p.m. These lucky Club 150 members will be treated to champagne, Lighthouse Mimosas, sparkling juices and sweet and savory snacks. A special presentation on the history and technology of the Lighthouse will be given before the ceremonial relighting of the Tower in honor of when the first light that was lit at 7:14 p.m. on May 1st, 1870. To become and Club 150 member go to our Club 150 webpage https://www.pointarenalighthouse.com/membership-and-dona//

The poppies are blooming just in time to welcome guests back to the 151 year old Light Station! We are reopening the Light Station Store, Indoor Museum and Outdoor Museum today after being closed since Christmas. Staff have all received their COVID-19 vaccinations and are thrilled to be back on the job. Please come support us by shopping in the Light Station Store and enjoying the Indoor Museum in the historic 1896 Fog Signal Building and exploring our 23 acre Outdoor Museum, featuring the wonderful Labyrinth!

Please consider participating in the Point Arena Light Station's 150th + 1 Anniversary Writers Invitation! All the details are at https://www.pointarenalighthouse.com/150th-1-anniversary-w/. Selected writings will be part of the Independent Coast Observer 150th + 1 Anniversary special section being published with the April 30, 2021 ICO. Entries are due by April 2 so get writing!

The Light Station Labyrinth is complete and is the highlight of our new Outdoor Museum!. Located just inside the entry gate on the eastern edge of the Station this stone labyrinth offers visitors a meditative and contemplative avenue to enjoy the Station grounds and views. Envisioned and funded by PALKI Board Vice President Laura Franklin, the labyrinth was installed by noted stone masons Julien Carmellino and Kevin Carman and assisted by Christopher Hamilton. It is an unusua...l five circuit pattern designed by Marilyn Larson, a founding member of the The Labyrinth Society (labyrinthsociety.org) and Educational Chair of its Board. It is also the westernmost installation in the Art Line, a series of walkable, interactive outdoor artworks across the heart of America along a 28 mile-wide band, centered on the 39th Latitude. Come check it out! See more

The Light Station had its first guest since March 12 this morning! Jessica Grossarth of Placerville stopped in on her way home from spending the last few days on the coast, and it was wonderful to have people in the Gift Store and Museum again.

On Friday, June 19 at 10 a.m. the Point Arena Light Station is finally opening its gates once again for guests to enjoy shopping, lodging and indoor and outdoor museums! With the revision to the Mendocino County Health Department’s (MCHD) Shelter in Place (SIP) order issued on June 11 the Light Station is able to resume operations as long as it adheres to the reopening guidelines. The Light Station will initially be open from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday a...nd admission to the Outdoor and Indoor Museums will be $5 for everyone over 12 years old or $25 per vehicle carrying up to eight people. Children under 12 are free, as are all Lighthouse members. Please come out and support the Light Station in its 150th Anniversary year. Our Gift Store has 150th Anniversary pins and patches and a great variety of Lighthouse outerwear, jewelry, home décor, toys, books, artwork and more. Having drastically reduced income for the last 3 months has left the non-profit Light Station is severe financial straits, and your Museum visits and Gift Store purchases will help us recover. We will be following the Cal/OSHA guidance for the reopening of all our facilities and will also adhere to the additional requirements in the MCHD SIP Order. The iconic 115’ tall Lighthouse Tower tallest on the Pacific coast will sadly have to remain closed initially, as its tight dimensions in the Watch Room and Lantern Room and confined spiral staircase make it difficult to enforce social distancing and disinfection/sanitizing for each tour. As a team we all agreed that it is in the best interests of our staff and guests to not allow tours in the Tower. We will revisit this as the State and County SIP Orders continue to be revised, but the health and safety of our guests and staff will always take precedence. We are deeply grateful for the many generous donations we received since the closure and the people that became Lifetime Members to help support us. Please come visit us SOON, Arena Mina and Tasi can’t WAIT to see you!

What a fantastic celebration for the graduating class of the Pacific Community Charter High School today at the Point Arena Lighthouse! It was our honor to host the drive by graduation for Alejandro Aguirre, Cole Diggins, Logan Duggan, Blaine Mason, and Dennae Silva-Timberlake. Charlie Mitchell played Pomp and Circumstance on his guitar to bring the right tone to the event. Thanks to the scores of people that came out to recognize, congratulate and applaud the graduates. It was extra special to the Lighthouse, as the Class of 2020 celebrated in the 150th Anniversary year of the Point Arena Lighthouse lighting the way on the coast. May you all go on to make this world a better place!

So sad that only Tasi, Mina and I are able to be here to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Point Arena Light Station being illuminated for the first time on May 1, 1870. We hope people can come celebrate our 150th year of lighting the way on the coast once the COVID-19 crisis is past and guest can safely visit us. At least the weather gods arranged the perfect day for this milestone event in the Light Station's long and illustrious history! Mark Hancock Executive Direc...tor Tasi & Mina Guest Relations Managers