The Pigeon Point Lighthouse (also: Pigeon Point Light Station) is a lighthouse on the Californian Pacific coast. It was built in 1871 and, with its 35 metre high tower, is one of the two tallest lighthouses on the west coast of the United States. The Point Arena Lighthouse in Mendocino County has the same height. The tower, which is still in operation today, stands on the California State Route 1 between Santa Cruz and San Francisco. It is used by ships entering San Francisco Bay from the south. The building complex, which includes several residential buildings that are now used as youth hostels, has been listed as a Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places since March 8, 1977. Together with the surrounding country, the ensemble forms the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park. (source Wikipedia)