Situated on a tiny, wave-swept rock 6 mi. off the coast near Crescent City, St. George Reef Lighthouse is a dramatic piece of living history and a monument to the dedication and sacrifices of the courageous men who built, maintained and operated it. The site for the lighthouse, first dubbed the “Dragon Rocks” in 1792, was chosen following the wreck of the Brother Jonathan in 1865, in which hundreds perished.
It took almost 10 years to build the lighthouse and get it operational. It saw service from 1892 until 1975, and in 1996 the decommissioned lighthouse was leased by the St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society, whose goal is to restore it to working condition. In March of 2012 it was once again activated, and today serves as a private aid to navigation.
2019 marks the 32nd year since the founding of the St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society and the start of restoration work. The restoration and maintenance have been funded largely but not entirely by helicopter flights to the remote rock for about 18 years, but for four years flights were halted while new upgrades were made to the helicopter landing area. The updates were finally completed, and helicopter tours have resumed. These flights depart the local airport, and land atop the caisson at the foot of the tower. During a one-hour tour of the structure visitors learn about the history of the lighthouse, the reef, and lighthouses in general. Tours are dependent upon the weather, and can be changed at the last moment due to unstable flying conditions.
Be sure to check the flight schedule. If you cannot make a flight and tour, you might consider stopping by the Del Norte County Museum, on the corner of 5th and H Streets, which is also home to a large collection of artifacts from the lighthouse, 707-464-3922. Also, please bear in mind that to stay open, the St. George Reef Lighthouse relies on donations to supplement the income from its helicopter tours. Flights from Nov-April
Where: Crescent City (google map)
More Info: 707-464-8299 | StGeorgeReefLighthouse.us