Mayo Beach Lighthouse
Wellfleet Harbor, on the Cape Cod Bay side of the Cape, is a large, protected location and has always been an important harbor on the Cape. In 1838, a lighthouse was quickly built at Mayo Beach in Wellfleet, just adjacent to the current harbor area. The lighthouse was constructed in the middle of the roof of the keeper's house. Later in that year, the lighthouse inspector was surprised to see the lighthouse - it had been quickly without his knowledge. Despite his protests, the lighthouse continued in operation. However, as most of the lighthouses of that design, the lighthouse gradually deteriorated, and in 1881, a new lighthouse and keeper's house were completed. This was a separate 30 foot tower made of cast iron and lined with brick, much like the lighthouses at Chatham. The use of the lighthouse was discontinued in 1922. At that time, the property was auctioned off and has been in private ownership since then.
The street view at the top shows the current view of the old lighthouse keeper's home, with the harbor area to the left. Taking a few steps down the road to the left will also provide a view of the old oil storage shed, still on the property. For many years, it had been thought that the lighthouse itself had been torn down and destroyed. Recent research, though, has found that the lighthouse itself was brought 3000 miles away to California, in 1925. Most likely, the sections of the lighthouse were unbolted from one another and transported by train to California.
The lighthouse, as shown in the lower image above, is now at Point Montara, California, overlooking the Pacific Ocean about 20 miles south of the busy port of San Francisco. The lighthouse is still operational with an FA 251 lens.
The lighthouse can be visited, but it is a long trip to Point Montara in California! However, a youth hostel is now on the property, so you can stay at the lighthouse and see it close up! Here is a short video from the Point Montara Youth Hostel site, with the lighthouse being shown during the first minute or so of the hostel tour.
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