History

Ship owners and masters petition U.S. government for a new navigation aid

Government identifies need

Frank Vanderlip buys Palos Verdes Peninsula (16,000 acres)  for  $1.7M

$80,000 appropriated for lighthouse

U.S. government begins condemnation proceedings against Frank Vanderlip for current site, then withdrawn

Condemnation proceedings reopened

Vanderlip title transferred

Construction bids for non-lighthouse structures opened & rejected as too   expensive

Requirements revised and new bid for $36,990 accepted

June 20 – fog signal activated

1st Principal keeper - George L’Hommedieu

April 14 – first light

2nd Principal keeper - Anton Trittinger

United States Lighthouse Service is incorporated into the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)

3rd Principal keeper - Joseph May

USCG Personnel staff lighthouse
1955: Albert M. Saccomagno
1959?: A.W. Gename
1961 George Taylor
1963: Ronald Cook
1965: Jack L. Toedter
1966: Henry Reynolds (until automation?)

Lighthouse automated

Added to the National Register of Historic Places Oct. 31

USCG qualified CG Auxiliarist Eric Castro-Bran to work on the lighthouse
1. Designated: “Auxiliary Lighthouse Keeper”
2. Began open house program – 2nd Saturday of the month

Original lamp and French-built Fresnel lens decommissioned and reinstalled at the Pt. Vicente Interpretive center where they are currently on display

Modern LED light system installed and activated

USCG Designated Kip Louttit: “Staff Officer for Navigation Systems, Pt. Vicente Lighthouse”
- Assisted by USCG Auxiliarist Wendy Louttit

Friends of The Point Vicente Lighthouse organized to raise funds for repairs to historic structures on the light station

100th anniversary