The Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse is a replica of the still functioning Trinidad Head Lighthouse that sits atop a cliff on Trinidad Head, which is located to the west of Trinidad Harbor. Constructed in 1949, until January of 2018 it stood just off Main Street, where it sat in a lovely park overlooking the rocky coast below the seaside village. Many visitors, and even some locals, used to think that the memorial was the actual operational lighthouse. That one, however, is open to the public only once a year. Its now-retired original fog bell and Fresnel lens, though, became part of the memorial, which honors those lost or buried at sea, and also serves as an iconic symbol of Trinidad.
Following a winter season of heavy rains, the ground surrounding Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse started to slip in March 2017. Geologists were called in to investigate, and determined that the lighthouse was in danger of being swept away and destroyed by a landslide. The following January the Memorial Lighthouse was moved to a temporary home on Trinidad Rancheria land near the harbor and Trinidad State Park, and in March it was decided that its permanent location would still be on Trinidad Rancheria land near the pier, but higher up. Fundraising and the permitting process are currently underway.
Where: Near Trinidad Pier.
More Info: Trinidad City Hall, 707-677-0223; TrinidadCivicClub.org or visit the Trinidad Civic Club on Facebook.
Next Up: #84 – Big Lagoon County Park
