Name and Location

The Los Angeles Harbor Light Station, also known as the Angels Gate Lighthouse, is a century-old navigational aid marking the entrance to Los Angeles Harbor. Located at the tip of the east breakwater in San Pedro, California, it remains an active U.S. Coast Guard light and a listed property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Coordinates:

• Address: End of east breakwater, Los Angeles Harbor, San Pedro, Los Angeles, CA, USA
• Plus Code: PP5X+C9 Los Angeles, CA
• Coordinates: 33.7085476 N, –118.2516146 W
• https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=33.7085476,-118.2516146">Map link: https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=33.7085476,-118.2516146

Construction and History

The construction of the lighthouse began in 1913 and was first lit that same year, featuring an early 20th-century Lighthouse Board design. The lighthouse underwent automation at some point, likely in the 1970s, but the exact date is not publicly documented.

Architecture and Materials

Designed by the U.S. Lighthouse Board (standardized cast-iron plan), the style is Utilitarian with modest classical detailing. The materials used are prefabricated cast-iron plates bolted to a reinforced-concrete foundation. The tower shape is cylindrical, tapering toward the lantern gallery; painted white with a distinctive black diamond pattern.

Height and Focal Height:

• Height: approx. 17 m (55 ft) above base
• Focal height: approx. 20 m (65 ft) above mean high water

Light and Navigation

The original lens was a Fourth-order Fresnel lens, which has since been replaced by a modern acrylic optic. The characteristic is speculative, but it's likely "Flashing White every 10 s" (Fl W 10s). The nominal range is approx. 9 nautical miles. Power source: Electrified from shore power; backup battery bank.

Accessibility and Visiting

Access: Reached on foot via the San Pedro east breakwater (public walkway). No vehicle access beyond parking at the inner harbor. Interior: Closed to the public; no lighthouse keeper's quarters remain in use. Tours: None regularly offered; occasionally opened during harbor-front walking tours (check local event listings).

Facilities:

• Restrooms and food concessions nearby at Ports O' Call Village and Cabrillo Marine Aquarium.

Notable Views and Landscape

The contrasting diamond-pattern tower framed against Catalina Island and the Pacific Ocean is often photographed at sunset, making it a popular spot for photographers.

Anecdotes and Folklore

The lighthouse served as a key guiding light through two World Wars, aiding military and commercial shipping. It has survived major Pacific storms with minimal damage; local lore recalls waves overtopping the breakwater in the 1930s.

Technical and Operational Details

Referenced on NOAA Chart 18651 (Los Angeles–Long Beach Harbors) and listed in the U.S. Coast Guard Light List, Volume 7 (Pacific Coast). No AIS transceiver or radar installation on site.

Further Information

• National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places nomination form (Ref. 80000810)
• U.S. Coast Guard Light List, Vol. 7 (Pacific Coast)
• NOAA Chart 18651 (Los Angeles–Long Beach Harbors)
• "Southern California Lighthouses" by Bob Emery (Heritage Press, 1992)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_Gate_Lighthouse">Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_Gate_Lighthouse