Point Cabrillo Lighthouse Mendocino Coast Events

Light Station Hours

LIGHTHOUSE & GIFT SHOP: Lighthouse History and Frolic Shipwreck Exhibit, open every day, 11AM-4PM

LIGHTKEEPERS HOME & MUSEUM: Open daily, 11AM-4PM

FARMHOUSE VISITORS CENTER: Closed

NATURE PRESERVE: Open daily until 1/2 hour after Sunset

For information call 707 937-6122.

2010 Docent Training

Below is a preliminary schedule of our 2010 docent training schedule. The dates and topics may change as we get closer to the actual training days.

History of the First Assistant Lightkeepers home :

Saturday February 6^th 10-12

This session will focus on the stories of the Lightkeepers families and how they experienced living and working at the light station in the early 1900s. Meet at the Assistant Light Keepers House Museum. Contact: Ginny Wade, wwade@mcn.org.

Marine Science I training; Saturday February 6^th, 1-3

Learn about the inter-tidal and other marine life that lives in the ocean off Point Cabrillo. Meet in The Assistant Light Keeper’s House Museum 2nd floor conference room. Contact: Caroline Schooley schooley@mcn.org

Frolic History: Saturday February 13th, 10-12

Learn about or refresh your knowledge of the history of the Frolic and its impact on Point Cabrillo, Mendocino and California. Meet at The Assistant Light Keeper’s House Museum (East House). Contact: Robert Becker rbecker@cal.net.

Light Station History: Saturday, February 13th, 1-3

Learn about or refresh your Point Cabrillo Light Station history facts. Topics will include the operation of the Fresnel lens, a description of the fog signal equipment, and duties of the Lightkeepers. Meet at the Lighthouse. Contact: Harold Hauck hhauck@mcn.org.

Whale Docent Training: Saturday February 20th, 10-2

All about whales for new and continuing docents. Meet at The Assistant Light keeper's House Museum 2nd floor conference room, bring lunch. Contact: Tanya Smart, wrismart@mcn.org

Marine Science 2 Training; Saturday February 27, 10-12

Learn about the inter-tidal and other marine life that lives in the ocean off Point Cabrillo. Meet at the Blacksmith Shop, Point Cabrillo Light Station and Nature Preserve. Contact: Nancy Kleiber, nkleiberca@mac.com

Whale Festival 2010

March 6-7 and March 20-21, 2010

Plan to attend the festivities at Point Cabrillo during the first and third weekends in March 2010. A preliminary schedule of events are described below. The PCLK thanks all visitors to Whale Festival; it's through your generous purchase of our Whale Festival Raffle Tickets and payment of parking fees that we are able to fund our annual Point Cabrillo Children's Education Program.

Whale Festival Activities

Gray Whales, migrating from Baja California, should be highly visible swimming just off the Lighthouse bluffs. Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association’s (PCLK) docents will be available (with lending binoculars) to answer questions and point out the whales as they swim past the headlands on an annual migration North to their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic.

Children are encouraged to watch the whales, and to participate in numerous games and activities including putting together a life-size Gray Whale jig-saw puzzle.

Visit the Lighthouse to view the collection of historical photographs, displays, and Frolic shipwreck exhibits. Docents will be on hand to explain the history of Point Cabrillo and the operation of the light station.

The Lightkeepers Museum located in the recently restored Assistant East Lightkeepers House will have docents available to provide insights into a light keeper's family life during the early 1930s.

A 250-gallon salt water aquarium, located in the restored light station black smith shop, allows visitors to get an up-close view of marine life that reside in nearby coastal tide pools and inter-tidal zones.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary will be on-hand with coastal and harbor navigational displays, water and boating safety information, and opportunities to schedule vessel safety examinations at Fort Bragg's Noyo Harbor. The USCG 25-foot search and rescue boat used at the USCG Station Noyo Harbor will be on display. Members of USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 87 will be available to discuss the cleaning and maintenance of the Lighthouse’s 3rd Order Fresnel lens.

The Mendocino Audubon Society volunteers will lead guided Bird Walks that start at 9:00 a.m. from the light station parking lot. The Audubon Society will also have a birding display with members available to answer questions and provide local birding information.

The Marine Mammal Center will have exhibits and provide information about the Seals, Sea Lions, and other marine mammals that live in the Mendocino area.

7^Th Annual Mendocino Heritage Days

The 7th annual Mendocino Heritage Days will take place thru out the month of May, 2010. Events will showcase historic preservation efforts in house museums, water towers, heritage roses, a church and the Point Cabrillo Light Station. Visit the Heritage Days Web Site for a complete schedule of the month's activities including preservation talks, cemetery and historical walks, photo displays and much more.

Plan to visit the Point Cabrillo Light Station on May 1st to enjoy tours up into the lantern room. Tours are led by members of Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 87, the people who maintain the lighthouse's beautiful 3rd order Fresnel Lens. This is an opportunity to learn about the light and see it up close.

Lighthouse Lantern Room & Lens Tours

Please join the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 87, our modern Lightkeepers, and the volunteers at Point Cabrillo Light Station for a unique opportunity to visit the lantern room and the beautifully restored operational Third Order Fresnel Lens. These tours are offered four times each year. The schedule for 2010 is:

May 01, 2010 - Mendocino Heritage Days

June 12, 2010 - Point Cabrillo Light Station Anniversary

August 07, 2010 - National Lighthouse Day

September 25, 2010 - Cabrillo Day

The Lighthouse Lantern Room and Fresnel Lens Tours will be offered every half-hour from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. A modest fee which supports the lighthouse maintenance fund is appreciated . Minimum age for participation is 12 years of age. Reservations are recommended, though not required, and may be made in advance by contacting the lighthouse at 707-937-6122.

Docent Led Interpretive Walks

Please join our docents every Sunday from 11am to 1:00pm June through Labor Day.

Enjoy a leisurely 1.5 mile walk from the visitor center parking lot to Frolic Cove and on along the coastal headlands to the lighthouse. During the walk docents will discuss the history, geology, and wildlife of Point Cabrillo and upon arrival at the lighthouse talk about the operation and restoration of the historic light station .

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