[1] The Roe Island Light was built on Roe Island, in the Suisun Bay across from Port Chicago, 33 miles (53 km) inland from the Golden Gate and five miles (8 km) east of Benicia.

[2] Beginning on February 16, 1890, a fixed white light was installed, and ran from that day forward.

During World War II, trains delivered ammunition to ships at the Port Chicago Navy Depot, which was 3,000 yards (2,700 m) from the Roe Island Lighthouse.

With changes in shipping behavior occurring in the surrounding area, it was determined that there was no longer a need for the light, and it was decommissioned and sold to a private family in 1945.

An 11 August 1944 Coast Guard report noted that the station: "consists of the light, with two keepers, with dwellings, outhouses, power house, water supply tanks, wharf, walkways, boat harbor and boat ways.