It weighed 4,330 pounds and included 16 panels of prisms, each with a bulls-eye in the center surrounded by concentric rings of prismatic glass.

[6][7] The entire structure, including the pedestal and clockworks was 18 feet (5 m) tall and weighed 9,570 pounds (4,341 kg).

[6] In 1972, the "Super Tyfon Double Fog Signal," named after the giant Typhon from Greek mythology, was put into use.

This system consisted of two compressed air horns sounding simultaneously, and could be heard up to 3 nautical miles (6 km) away.

There was a well in the sand flats at the base of the rocks and a pump that filled a 53,000 US gallons (200,627 L) cistern (later replaced by a water tower) at the station.

[8] The Old Coast Road connected the station to Monterey, but it was a nearly a full day's trip via wagon until the northern portion of the macadam Cabrillo-San Simeon Highway was completed in 1924.

In 1793, British explorer George Vancouver described the "small, high, rocky lump of land nearly half a mile from the shore.

In 1874, the United States Lighthouse Service (USLS) board stated, Vessels leaving San Francisco for the south having proceeded as far as Pigeon Point Light, take their departure for Point Sur, some sixty miles distant, the great indentation of Monterey Bay intervening.

Vessels to the southward bound to San Francisco having arrived at Piedras Blancas, take their departure for Point Sur again about the sixty miles distance.

Bulk supplies such as coal, firewood, animal feed, and some food came on a lighthouse tender about every four months.

The tender would anchor in a dog-hole ports south of the lightstation and send in a 20-foot whaler towing a skiff, both loaded with supplies.

[4] In 1991, the old lighthouse and a 37-acre (15 ha) area was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places as Point Sur Light Station.

Interested individuals and groups began efforts to return the lens to the Point Sur Light Station.

The nonprofit Central Coast Light Keepers collected more than $100,000 in donations to pay to return the lens.

[7] Notable shipwrecks occurring near Point Sur: In 1967, the lighthouse (including the lantern room) and its surrounding buildings, were used as a filming location for an episode of the WWII-themed TV series, The Rat Patrol, entitled "The Two If By Sea Raid" (airdate: 12/18/67), standing in for a Nazi-held lighthouse on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa.

[17] The lighthouse was rumored to be haunted and the location was investigated by the Travel Channel Ghost Adventures paranormal reality TV show.