Structural Details
The first light house was 50 feet in height and had a Third Order Fresnel Lens. Construction of the foundation for tower started in 1852. The tower and also the keepers double storied house (“Cape Cod style”) were completed in 1853. The lens arrived in October 1853 and Michael Cassin lighted it on June 1, 1854, thus creating a record of sorts for this Light House as the first on the Pacific Coast. The old light house was damaged in the earthquake which occurred on Wednesday the April 18, 1906. A new lighthouse was built to the south east of the old light house. The old light house existed along side the new structure for a while and used as a storehouse but eventually demolished between 1912 and 1913.
The existing light house is built to a height of 84 feet (26 m) or 95 feet (29 m) (above m.s.l.) (a height of 214 ft above sea level is also mentioned.) to the top and is to the south of the original lighthouse. Its foundation is made of masonry while the octagonal pyramidal shaped tower is made of concrete. Initially a third order Fresnel reflector was installed in 1854 which was replaced by a fourth order reflector in 1903/ Foghorn bell was replaced by electronic Klaxon. Near the base of the tower was family accommodation also built to house three keepers and their families. Similar "Cape-cod style" buildings, encircling the thick light brick tower, were built at Point Loma in San Diego, Point Pinos near Montrerey and also on the Southeast Farallon Island about 30 miles (48 km) west of the San Francisco Strait.
There was also a telephone installed, in the 1930, in the keepers quarters (moved to the hall later) known to and accessed only by the keepers. When the Federal Penitentiary was established on the island more telephones were installed and was made accessible to others also.
The lighthouse was operated and maintained by the keepers whose responsibility included operation of fog signals found located on the northern and southern tips of the island. The prison guards facilitated the keepers to blow the fog horns as they were in advantageous position stationed on the elevated watch towers; the guards who were in position to see "a bank of fog started to roll through the Golden Gate", would inform notify the keepers so that the fog horns could be activated.
Read more about this topic: Alcatraz Island Light
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