• California Lighthouses on the Internet

Yerba Buena, California

Harbour Lights Limited Edition #639
2001 Event Exclusive

From the mid 1800s, the San Francisco Bay has served as the gateway to the West. Gold was the first attraction, but today the area has such a rich appeal that there is, quite literally, something for everyone. Lighthouse enthusiasts are no exception. The same city that built the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge across the bay was just as generous when it came to lighting its waters. A string of seven lighthouses guided ships into San Francisco's choppy harbor or up the Sacramento River. They include: Alcatraz Island, Fort Point, East Brother, Point Bonita, Lime Point, Mile Rocks, and Yerba Buena. Each beacon played an important role in the development of one of our nation's most prosperous regions.

The Yerba Buena light stands on the southeastern end of Yerba Buena Island, which was once called Goat Island because of the large herd of goats that ran wild there.

Built in 1874 for $10,000, the tower stands only 25 feet high. But don't let its small stature fool you. The famous 1906 earthquake, which took its toll on some of the area's larger, more dominant lighthouses, barely left a mark on the sturdy Yerba Buena. The only evidence of the quake amounted to a few chips on the lens cage. The first lighthouse on the West Coast to be equipped with floodlighting, it was automated in 1958.

Today, thanks to the diligence of its past keepers, such as Wayne Piland and Ralph Oliverio, the tower has stood the test of time and the elements, is in good condition and still operating. Unfortunately, it is not open to the public, except for occasional prearranged group tours. It can be seen by boat, and motorists can catch a glimpse of it when traveling east from San Francisco across the Oakland Bay Bridge. 

Because the Yerba Buena remains so elusive, the next best thing to an up-close viewing of the "real thing" is our authentic, detailed depiction. Below the tower, you'll see the building that housed the fog signal, The white brick octagonal tower is original. Above it sits the keeper's dwelling, built in 1873. In order to keep the sculpture to a manageable size for display, we've taken some artistic license by reducing the distance between the tower and the keeper's house. In actuality, the keeper had much more of a climb! As you can see, this gorgeous Victorian, depicted here as it was at the turn of the 20th century, was well worth the extra effort to get home. The building now serves as the home to the U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral in Charge of Pacific Operations.

Click on each image to view a larger size in a new window.

* Yerba Buena CA is the In-Store event piece for 2001 and will be available at Retail Stores holding either a 'Bill Younger Event' or a 'Rep Event' during the year 2001.. 

Photographs by Paul L. Brady © Harbour Lights  
May 28, 2002