Perched on the rugged coastline near Lompoc, California, Point Arguello Light has guided mariners since 1901 along one of the Pacific Coast’s most treacherous stretches. The station gained lasting notoriety after the 1923 Honda Point disaster, when seven Navy destroyers ran aground nearby in the worst peacetime loss of U.S. naval vessels. The lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation operated by the Coast Guard but is not open to the public, as it sits within Vandenberg Space Force Base. Golden hour and foggy mornings offer the most dramatic photography conditions. Nearby, visitors can explore Point Conception, Jalama Beach, and the charming Danish village of Solvang.

Explore Nearby

• La Purísima Mission State Historic Park — State Park in California
• Point Sal State Beach — State Park in California
• Point Sal — Public Land in California
• California Coastal National Monument — Public Land
• Los Padres National Forest — National Forest in California