Just when you think you know something about lighthouses, you get a letter in the mail that reminds you there is always more to learn. Subscriber, Ainsley Dixon and his wife found the remains of this old lighthouse while on a camping trip to Lake Tahoe. A park ranger they spoke with said that many people think it is the remains of an old out-house. However if you look closely you can clearly see this was at one time a lighthouse.
It was built in 1916 by the United States Coast Guard under the direction of J.J. Bodilsen. The lighthouse stands on Rubicon Point. It was powered by acetylene gas and was supposed to aid in navigation. Due to difficulties in keeping the light supplied with fuel and confusion because of its elevation above the shore it was discontinued in 1919. A new lighthouse was built at Pine Point the same year, which has since been replaced by a solar powered light on a pole.
This story appeared in the
March 1997 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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