>> Click to enlarge << The lens is finally complete and ready to show.   Photo by: Bill Edwards

Those were the words of Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Board President Willard Thompson at the gala for the opening of the exhibit of California’s Point Conception Lighthouse Lens. All of the time and hard work by scores of people, in addition to generous donations, made the night of September 21, 2013 all that sweeter for the close to 300 in attendance that evening.

>> Click to enlarge << The accompanying wall display, which includes an ... Photo by: Bill Edwards

Lighthouse Digest has documented the journey of the 1st order lens in several articles dating back to the Spring of 2012, with the announcement of the moving of the lens out of the lighthouse, through the process of the planning and actual move, with the restoration of the lens (the most recent entry in the January-February 2014 issue of Lighthouse Digest), to this opening night unveiling. Be sure to check them out in the magazine’s online archives.

>> Click to enlarge << The notebook is from John Scollan, Keeper ... Photo by: Bill Edwards

In the accompanying photos, we bring you a taste of the evening’s festivities and a look at the various parts of the exhibit.

>> Click to enlarge << View of the lens from the second floor of the ... Photo by: Bill Edwards

In an upcoming issue of Lighthouse Digest, an exclusive look inside a lightkeeper’s house still standing at Point Conception, and what life was like for a lightkeeper and his family in that home 45 years ago. The story of their visit decades later - coming soon!

>> Click to enlarge << The weight for the clockwork for the lens ... Photo by: Bill Edwards

>> Click to enlarge << Just outside in front of the museum is the last ... Photo by: Bill Edwards

>> Click to enlarge << These are bulbs that were actually used in the ... Photo by: Bill Edwards

>> Click to enlarge << Hundreds gathered at the event.   Photo by: Bill Edwards

>> Click to enlarge << Photo hanging of the lens’ old home, near the ... Photo by: Bill Edwards

>> Click to enlarge << Lighthouse Digest was available for attendees - ... Photo by: Bill Edwards

This story appeared in the May/Jun 2014 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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