Denny Johansen 

NEW TIMES How long has the lighthouse been around?

JOHANSEN Well, the bill that passed the construction of the lighthouse was passed on June 24, 1886. Actual construction started in 1889 and was finished in 1890. We celebrated the lighthouse’s 120th birthday last June.

NEW TIMES Can you explain what lighthouse keepers do?

JOHANSEN Since our establishment in 1995, we’ve been doing our best to restore the integrity and character of the lighthouse. The first goal was to stabilize the structure after 20 years of neglect, followed by a restoration process for the exterior of the 100-year-old redwood that was used to construct the lighthouse. We then refinished and refurbished the interior of the lighthouse, including the kitchens, bedrooms, and dining halls. We wanted to provide visitors a place to step back in time.

NEW TIMES How can someone see the lighthouse?

JOHANSEN All of the tours are reservation-required, so you will want to contact us by phone. We have trolley tours available every first and third Saturdays of the month, and they are $20 a person. We also have group trolley or van tours available that can accommodate 20 to 50 people. Finally, PG&E offers hikes starting from the Pecho Coast Trail and ending at the lighthouse. If you’d like to take a trolley tour or arrange a large reservation for a group of people, you can contact us at 540-5771, and if you’d like to hike to the lighthouse, you’ll need to contact 541-TREK.