Anacapa Island and Lighthouse through the clouds:

Positioned at the eastern entrance to the Santa Barbara Channel, Anacapa was a natural choice for a lighthouse. The Lighthouse Board decided to place a light on the island, but to limit the expense of building an offshore beacon, an unmanned acetylene lens lantern on a tower was erected in 1912.

In 1932, the current permanent light station was built on the island, and was the last major light station to be built on the west coast. The 39-foot (12 m) tower and fog signal were built on the highest point of the island.

In 1938, under the direction of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Santa Barbara and Anacapa Islands became Channel Islands National Monument. The United States Coast Guard automated the station in 1966.

The lighthouse is still an active aid to navigation.  

Location: Channel Islands NMS
State: California
Photographer: Robert Schwemmer