Construction and History

East Brother Light Station was constructed in 1874 to mark the narrow east channel into San Francisco Bay. It took three years to build after the more famous Point Bonita Lighthouse. The station remained an active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation until it was automated in 1969.

Architecture and Materials

The light station features a Carpenter Gothic–influenced wood cottages with attached iron lantern room, built using timber-framed keepers' dwelling, wood-shingle cladding, cast-iron lantern, metal gallery. The tower stands at 34 ft (10.4 m) above its base, while the keeper's house is two stories high.

Light and Navigation

The original lens was a fifth-order Fresnel lens installed in 1874. The current lens is a modern aerobeacon, automated circa 1969. The light characteristic is Flashing White every 10 seconds (Fl W 10s), with a nominal range of approximately 10 nmi.

Accessibility and Visiting

Public access to the island is possible by ferry only, departing from Richmond Ferry Terminal (Point Potrero Road) on Fridays, Sundays, and select holidays. Reservations are required. Daytime guided tours typically run on Sundays, May-October. Overnight stays are available in six guest rooms, with meals included.

Notable Views and Landscape

The island is a granite outcrop with native grasses and coastal scrub, hosting nesting seabirds and harbor seals offshore. The views include Richmond shoreline, San Pablo Bay to the north, and the Golden Gate Bridge silhouette to the southwest.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local legend claims that on foggy nights, the lantern light would "dance" across the water, earning the island's nickname "Ghost Light". Former keepers recalled a pet raccoon that raided the chicken coop and once led a cook chase around the boiler room.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is an active navigation aid listed in USCG Light List, chart number 18651 (San Pablo Bay and Approaches). It is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard, with automated operations since 1969.

Further Information

For further reading, please visit the East Brother Light Station official site at https://www.ebls.org/, or explore the National Register nomination form at https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/06000408_text.