Point San Luis Lighthouse
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As 2026 draws to a close, we’re reflecting on a truly special year at the Point San Luis Lighthouse—one filled with celebration, connection, music, and meaningful milestones.
The year began with the arrival of spring and a renewed sense of energy at the Lighthouse. Wellness programs, including Pilates at the Lighthouse, brought visitors together to enjoy movement and fresh coastal air in a one-of-a-kind historic setting. The spring and summer months also brought beautiful weddings and special gatherings, creating unforgettable memories against the backdrop of the Pacific.
Summer was filled with music as our 2026 Concert Series sold out, welcoming audiences to experience intimate live performances high above the ocean. The success of the series reflects the incredible support of our community and helps provide essential funding for the preservation and care of this historic landmark.
This fall brought another extraordinary milestone: the Point San Luis Lighthouse was selected as the September 2026 Lighthouse of the Month by the National Lighthouse Museum. This special recognition celebrates the Lighthouse’s history, preservation efforts, and the dedicated volunteers, staff, members, donors, and community supporters who help keep its story alive.
As we look toward the holiday season, we invite you to celebrate with us. Join us for Seasonal Tours, featuring the charm of a Victorian Christmas, complimentary hot beverages and sweet treats, and the opportunity to experience the beautifully decorated historic site during the magic of the coastal winter.
Celebrate the Holiday Season at the Point San Luis Lighthouse
Giving Tuesday
Dear Friends of the Point San Luis Lighthouse,
As Giving Tuesday approaches, we reflect on the rich history and enduring legacy of the Point San Luis Lighthouse. For 136 years, this historic site has guided countless mariners and stood as a testament to our coastal heritage.
This year, your Giving Tuesday donation can make a significant impact on several crucial projects and ongoing programs at the lighthouse:
Landscaping and Natural Rehabilitation: We are carefully enhancing the lighthouse grounds through a natural rehabilitation project that restores native plant life, improves soil health, and preserves the site's ecological integrity, honoring the natural landscape as it once was.
Educational Programs and Tours: Our educational programs and tours bring history to life for visitors of all ages, educating the community about the lighthouse's role in maritime history.
Reconstruction of the Head-Keeper's Privy: Our next major project aims to reconstruct the head-keeper's privy, preserving the site's historical integrity and offering visitors a complete picture of life at the lighthouse.
Your generosity this Giving Tuesday will ensure that the Point San Luis Lighthouse remains a cherished community resource, providing historical education and a tangible connection to our maritime past. Together, we can maintain and enhance this iconic site for everyone to enjoy.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. Your support is invaluable and plays a crucial role in keeping the light shining brightly at the Point San Luis Lighthouse.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to preserving our shared history.
With gratitude,
The Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers
Join us for our 2nd Annual Qigong Lighthouse Fundraiser on Saturday, October 31, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m!
To join this special Halloween event:
-Donate $20 to the Lighthouse: givebutter.com/halloween-qigong-at-the-point-san-luis-lighthouse
-Register for the hike: trails.pge.com/index_trails.asp
Come hike, move, connect, and celebrate with us! 🎃
The Point San Luis Lighthouse’s
136th Anniversary Celebration:
Private Victorian Luncheons
Step back in time this Fall and celebrate the 136th anniversary of the Point San Luis Lighthouse with an exclusive Victorian-themed luncheon event! Join us for an unforgettable experience, available from October 2026 until June 2027, as we honor the rich history of this iconic lighthouse.
This intimate gathering is limited to just six guests or fewer, ensuring a personal and exclusive experience. The $600 ticket price includes a guided tour, a four-course meal, and all alcoholic beverages.
Four-Course Victorian Feast: Savor a carefully curated four-course meal inspired by Victorian-era flavors, complemented by local beer and wine pairings.
Docent-Led Tour: Experience the lighthouse through the eyes of our knowledgeable docents, dressed in period attire, who will lead you on a captivating tour through its storied halls.
Victorian Dress Encouraged: To truly immerse yourself in the experience, we invite you to dress in Victorian-era attire for the occasion.
Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to indulge in history, fine food, and local spirits at the Point San Luis Lighthouse. Dates are available again this fall, but you can reserve your spot today!
Book your Private Victorian Luncheon
For more details or to schedule your event, contact us today. We look forward to celebrating with you! contact@pointsanluislighthouse.org
Support the Preservation of the Lighthouse
All proceeds from this event directly fund the ongoing maintenance, restoration, and preservation of the Point San Luis Lighthouse. By attending, you are helping to ensure that this historical landmark continues to shine brightly for many years to come.
Published in 2022 by the United States Lighthouse Society, this book about the Point San Luis Lighthouse is a collection of tales—true tales, not tall tales—mainly about the people who lived and worked at the lighthouse during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The last chapter covers a later period, with stories about the young military men and their families stationed at the lighthouse during the twentieth century’s middle years. It’s an 8” x 10” softcover running about 300 pages.
Introducing New First Edition
These books are available in our Gift Shop, selling for only $20.00
Order Here
On Site Tours now available every Wednesday and Saturday
Volunteers and Docents needed
Docent training available now
Gift Shop Now Available Online
Visit our online shop here
On Demand Video Tour
This Video tour is professionally filmed by Patrick Ang and features our head Keeper, Ed Tainter, attired is his official government issue formal Keepers Uniform. Let him take you back in time to 1890 as he leads you thru the grounds and facilities of Point San Luis Light Station.
Take a short virtual tour
Here’s a short intro to the beautiful, historic lighthouse and grounds. We look forward to seeing you in person soon! Click below and take a full 3D tour of the Lighthouse and Fog Signal Building!
Point San Luis Lighthouse is open and shipping!
Point San Luis Lighthouse - Avila Beach, California
Founded in 1890, the Point San Luis Light Station has served as the beacon over San Luis Bay for 130 years. From it induction under the United States Lighthouse Board, then the Lighthouse Service, and lastly as being under the auspice of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Point SLO Light Station has had a varied and exciting past.
The two-story main keeper's structure is considered Victorian in its design. The architect is believed to be Paul J. Pelz who designed many lighthouses in the late 1800's. There were two other identical lighthouses in California, one at Table Bluff near Humboldt and the other at Ballast Point near San Diego. Of the three, Point SLO is the only remaining lighthouse of its design.
The Coast Guard still maintains a light at the station, an active Vega VLB 44-2.5 light, which blinks one second on/four seconds off, every night, and is visible up to 17 miles away. The rest of the station is operated as a historic site open to visitors who can reach the property by riding on our van, by hiking with the Pecho Coast Trail Guides, or by kayaking to Whalers Beach. The park is open from sunup to sundown.
In 1991 the Point San Luis Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places #91001093, and in 1995 the Lighthouse Keepers was founded, a 501(c)3 non-profit. The keepers look after the maintenance of the station, and oversee achieving the goal of the site--to share its valuable history with visitors and locals alike. The lighthouse is able to operate as a destination historic site thanks to the participation of PG&E and the Port San Luis Harbor Commission.
Come visit the lighthouse and experience what it was like to live 130 years ago!
Lighthouse News
Community Partners
Lighthouse Grounds Regulations
Pets are not permitted on tours. The only animals permitted on the tours or in the buildings are service animals. Prior notice must be given to Lighthouse staff if you are planning on bringing a service animal.
Photography and flash photography are permitted on tours, however tripods and video are not. Guests who arrive with video cameras will be instructed to leave them in their cars.
We ask that guests leave food and beverages in their cars. Water and light snacks are permitted.
Due to the property being next to Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Drones are strictly forbidden.
Questions?
Contact us.
or call us at (805) 540-5771