Far out in the Pacific, one of California’s most isolated historic landmarks is welcoming visitors again. The St. George Reef Lighthouse has reopened for limited public tours.
As reported by the L.A. Times, the lighthouse located six miles off the coast of Crescent City had gone dark about a year ago. The first people to reach it since the summer of 2024 were the volunteers who traveled there to bring it back to life.
Over several days, crews cleaned the building, removed water and debris, secured broken doors and windows, and restored the lighthouse’s lamp. Their work made it possible for the tower to reopen for its first public tours since 2023.
How to visit the lighthouse
Visiting the lighthouse is far from your typical sightseeing stop. The tower sits on a remote rock in the Pacific and can only be reached by helicopter. Flights depart from the airport in Crescent City and take just a few minutes to reach the offshore site.
Once there, visitors land on the lighthouse platform and take a guided tour of the historic structure, including climbing the tower to the lantern room at the top. The full experience usually lasts about 90 minutes, including the flight.
Tours are extremely limited due to weather conditions and safety restrictions, and only small groups can visit at a time. Prices typically range from about $200 to $430 per person.
A landmark with a dramatic history
The St. George Reef Lighthouse was built after one of the deadliest maritime disasters along the Northern California coast. In 1865, the passenger steamship SS Brother Jonathan struck the rocks near St. George Reef and sank, killing 225 people.
The tragedy prompted calls for a lighthouse to warn ships about the dangerous reef offshore. Construction began soon after, but it was incredibly difficult.
Workers had to assemble the structure directly on the exposed rock while battling strong waves and harsh weather. The project took about a decade to complete, with the granite lighthouse finally finished in 1891.
