Point Hueneme Light

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**Point Hueneme Light**
Location:	Santa Barbara Channel, California
Coordinates WGS-84 (GPS)	34.145° N 119.2098° W
Construction:	Concrete
Year first lit:	1941
Year first constructed:	1874
Automated:	1972
Tower shape:	Square on fog signal building
Markings/Pattern:	white art moderne
Height:	48 ft
Original lens:	Fourth order Fresnel lens
Current lens:	Fourth order Fresnel lens
Characteristic:	flashing white

Point Hueneme Light is a lighthouse on the east entrance to the Santa Barbara Channel, California

[edit] History

Point Hueneme Light on the north side of the east entrance to the Santa Barbara Channel is a 48-foot high, buff-colored tower on a fog-signal building. Established in 1874, the station was automated in 1941. The fourth-order Fresnel lens is still used in the original tower.

Probably the most dramatic thing that has happened in recent years within range of the light was a shipwreck over which the lighthouse had no preventive power. The veteran passenger liner La Janelle once removed from her role as a cruise liner, lay at anchor off Port Hueneme on April 14, 1970 awaiting plans for conversion to a floating restaurant and fun palace. The owners were attempting to cut down on moorage costs by leaving the vessel at anchor in the open ocean, directly offshore. That was a bad mistake. With only one watchman aboard, the vessel fell victim to storm-tossed seas which rose to huge activities, causing the 465 foot long ship to slip her anchor cables. In a dramatic episode of the sea, rescue parties managed to snatch the watchman from the deck, but the 40 year old vessel, like a wounded whale, was tossed unceremoniously onto the beach, a total constructive loss. The California State Lands Commission became much concerned about the problem both from the standpoint of leaking oil and a menace to navigation. They voted unanimously to have the ship scrapped, "as is, where is," and accordingly put out bids. The big steel ship still remains but is being torn apart bit by bit by human and natural elements.