The 1913 lighthouse at the San Pedro breakwater. It's closed to the public, but visible from Cabrillo Beach, the bluffs and harbor cruises.
Angels Gate Lighthouse, officially the Los Angeles Harbor Light, stands at the end of the San Pedro breakwater and marks the entrance to the Port of Los Angeles. It has guided ships into the harbor since 1913 and is one of the few lighthouses in the country with a green light.
How to see it
The lighthouse is an active aid to navigation and isn’t open to visitors, and walking out on the breakwater rocks is dangerous and not allowed. Good places to see it include:
- The end of the Cabrillo Beach Fishing Pier.
- The bluffs at Point Fermin Park and the lookout at Pacific Avenue and Shepard Street.
- The hilltop at the Korean Bell of Friendship in Angels Gate Park.
- A harbor cruise, whale-watching trip or sportfishing boat leaving San Pedro, which pass right by it.
Lighthouse facts
- Built: 1913, on a 40-foot concrete block at the end of the breakwater.
- Tower: 69 feet tall, in a Romanesque style unlike any other California lighthouse.
- Light: One green flash every 15 seconds.
- Foghorn: Two blasts every 30 seconds, a familiar sound in San Pedro on foggy nights.
- Automated: 1973. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
History
The breakwater it stands on took more than a decade to build from rock barged over from Catalina Island. A fierce storm in 1939 pounded the lighthouse for days and left the tower leaning slightly toward shore, which it still does. The lighthouse was restored for its 100th birthday in 2013.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Angels Gate Lighthouse?
No. It is an active navigation light at the end of the breakwater and isn’t open to the public. You can see it well from Cabrillo Beach, Point Fermin and harbor boat trips.
Why is the Angels Gate light green?
The green light marks the entrance to Los Angeles harbor and helps sailors tell it apart from other lights on the coast. It flashes once every 15 seconds.
How old is Angels Gate Lighthouse?
It was built in 1913.