By Debbie Sklar / Peninsula Beacon / August 6, 2026 High atop Point Loma, overlooking the entrance to San Diego Bay, families once lived in one of the most isolated homes in Southern California. Their job was simple in theory but demanding in practice: keep the lighthouse burning every night so ships could safely find their way into the harbor. Completed in 1855, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse was one of the first lighthouses built on the California coast after California became a state. Standing 422 feet above sea level inside what is now Cabrillo National Monument, it was built at what was then considered the highest lighthouse location in the United States. The lofty location offered spectacular views, but it eventually created an unexpected problem. Life at the lighthouse was far from easy. The station was an isolated outpost where keepers and their families contended with strong winds, scarce supplies and the constant responsibility of maintaining the beacon. The grounds included living quarters, a barn, storage buildings, a chicken coop and water cisterns. Without running water, every drop had to be collected and carefully conserved.