Built in 1866 on the high and rocky slopes of Cape Mendocino, CA. This
like named lighthouse stood at a height of 422 feet above the sea. It served as
a warning to mariners of the hazardous coastline for nearly a century before
the Coast Guard discontinued its operation in 1951.
The original first-order Fresnel lens was removed from the lantern after World War II. It was taken to Ferndale, CA where it was installed in a replica of the tower. However, due to uncontrolled environmental conditions for the lens, the Coast Guard determined the lens was deteriorating and could not remain there. Therefore, Ferndale took action to save the lens and build a new home for it at the Ferndale Museum.
The original first-order Fresnel lens was removed from the lantern after World War II. It was taken to Ferndale, CA where it was installed in a replica of the tower. However, due to uncontrolled environmental conditions for the lens, the Coast Guard determined the lens was deteriorating and could not remain there. Therefore, Ferndale took action to save the lens and build a new home for it at the Ferndale Museum.
For years the lighthouse remained unattended on the slopes at Cape
Mendocino and deteriorated to extremely poor condition. The lighthouse was even
in danger of sliding down the steep slope into the sea.
The city of Shelter
Cove, CA won a three-way bid for relocation and restoration of the historic
Cape Mendocino Lighthouse. They dismantled the lighthouse and moved its
components, minus the lens, approximately 25 miles north to its new location. In
November 1998 they began restoration of the lighthouse and it now sits with the lantern glass
installed at its new location, Point Delgada in Mel Coombs Park, Shelter Cove. Action is also underway by Shelter Cove to have the first-order
Fresnel lens moved to Shelter Cove and reinstalled in the original tower.
Time may tell the rest of this history story.
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