East Brother Island Light sits on East Brother Island near the tip of Point San Pablo in Richmond, marking the entrance to San Pablo Bay from San Francisco Bay. Its lamp was first lit on March 1, 1874.
Why an island?
The federal government needed a light here but couldn't buy mainland property at a reasonable price, so it used the island it already owned. Crews blasted the rock level and built a two-story keeper's house with an attached tower and a fog signal building. A cistern blasted 30 feet deep holds about 50,000 gallons of rainwater.
Keepers and a near-demolition
Two keepers, John Stenmark and Willard Miller, each logged 20 years of service, more than any others. The light was automated in 1969. After that, the government wanted to tear down the keeper's house and other buildings, but protests from local residents stopped it. The station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, and the nonprofit East Brother Light Station, Inc. was formed in 1979 to restore it. The keeper's house opened as a bed-and-breakfast in 1980.
Staying there today
- The inn has five rooms, each with a bay view.
- An overnight stay includes a tour, champagne and hors d'oeuvres, a multi-course dinner with wine and a full breakfast. Dinner is shared at a communal table with up to four other couples.
- Innkeepers live on the island.
- Guests must be able to handle stairs and a boat ride, and the station says it cannot accommodate wheelchairs.
- Day use with boat transportation and a guided tour is offered on summer Saturdays.
Supporting the station
Money from the inn pays for ongoing restoration and maintenance through the nonprofit. The station says it is seeking donations to replace its pier and gangway.
Nearby: Point Pinole Regional Shoreline.