One of the highest lights in California, it was constructed in 1855 to warn ships approaching San Francisco from the west away from the rocky islands.

The lens is on display in the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park visitor center on Hyde Street, while the lantern room itself was scrapped after removal.

From the Coast Guard web site: This lighthouse is situated on the highest peak of the southeast Farallon.

That there was need for a light on these dangerous rocks is evident when clippers like the Golden City which sailed from New York in 1852 reported that she was detained 5 days off the Farallons in fog.

A number of years ago the gathering of birds’ eggs, which were sold on the San Francisco market, was carried on here extensively and seals were also hunted commercially.