Pigeon Point interpretive center opens Saturday

On Saturday, November 17th, 2007 the beacon of the venerable Pigeon Point Lighthouse, in continuous operation for 135 years, will again blaze into life to brighten the night following the unveiling of a special new interpretive center highlighting the shipwrecks, cultural heritage and natural history of the region. The focus is the famed lighthouse that stood sentinel over the area’s rocky coast, and that witnessed some of the North-Central California coast’s most dramatic episodes of its maritime history. The unveiling ceremony will take place at 4:00 p.m. at the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park, off Highway One near Pescadero, California, approximately twenty miles south of Half Moon Bay.

The exhibit wraps around the inside of the fog signal building, and with three dimensional models, banners and maps, relates the 19th and 20th century wrecks of several proud-masted barques and schooners, and 20th century steamers. Against the backdrop of the mournful sound of a foghorn, ancient illustrations and period photos bring to life California’s earliest coastal cultural heritage, from First Nation Ohlone tribes, to Spanish explorers, to European whalers and Chinese fishermen and 49ers. Moments frozen in time are recaptured, such as in one ill-fated passengers’ last correspondence, in the Point’s worst disaster, the wreck of the San Juan, that collided with another ship in dense fog.  Lost at sea along with 74 other souls, Mrs. W.J. Brown had written, "I’d rather take the train, but the boat is cheaper. The children need shoes."

A model of the famed lighthouse features cutaway walls to reveal the spiral-staircased interior, the lantern and clockwork rotation system.  On a detailed wall map, visitors can trace wrecks and lighthouses along the coast from Cambria north to Bodega Head. Other inhabitants of the mist-shrouded coast are featured, including gray whales, shorebirds, seals and sea lions, and the display offers tips for wildlife viewing.

The annual tradition of re-lighting the light will take place between 6 and 8pm. Visiting hours start at 10:00 am. and go through 8:00 pm. The new interpretive center is a project of California State Parks, NOAA’s Monterey Bay and Gulf of the Farallones national marine sanctuaries, and the San Mateo County Coast Natural History Association.

For more information contact [email protected].