The Story Behind This Haunted Lighthouse in Northern California Will Leave You With Chills
By Jill S.|Published February 09, 2017
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Jill S.
Author
Jill is a freelance writer from a small Northern California town and lives in the Sierra Nevada mountains. If you have an idea for an Only In Northern California story, email her at jsanford@onlyinyourstate.com.
Located in the far northern end of the California coastline just before you cross into Oregon is one of the most haunted, creepiest lighthouses in the country. The Battery Point Lighthouse, also known as the Crescent City Lighthouse, is one of the most breathtaking as well as strange areas in Northern California.
The Battery Point Lighthouse and museum is located on a small peninsula off A Street in Crescent City. At low tide, the peninsula is accessible via this small road.
The Lighthouse was first lit with oil lamps on December 10, 1856, making it one of the oldest lighthouses in California. It’s an active lighthouse that still serves as an aid to navigation.
During its over 150 years of history many keepers and their families have tended its light. In 1936, the U.S. Lighthouse Service was in charge of the light station. The U.S. Coast Guard eventually took over its operation and maintenance.
A year before it was set for deactivation, the lighthouse keepers witnessed the massive tsunami of 1964 wipe out seven city blocks of Crescent City while they helplessly watched and feared for their own safety. The keepers were eyewitnesses to the destruction but were also threatened by waves from the extreme storm.
The lighthouse is haunted at Battery Point, but no one seems to know exactly by who and why. There is believed to be at least one resident ghost which is playful.
A paranormal research group that investigated the Battery Point Lighthouse believes it is haunted not by one ghost, but by three: a child and two adult specters. It was named as Coastal Living's 7th most haunted lighthouse in the country.
Most of the paranormal activity being reported occurs during museum tours. Some guests have experienced being touched on their shoulders or sensing a presence. Caretakers report having their slippers moved at night while asleep, a rocking chair moving back and forth on its own, and sea boots trudging up the haunted lighthouse stairway as if the specter is still on duty. The last one happens especially during times of storms. Even cats at this lighthouse have acted strangely during times of ghostly activity.
Visits to the Battery Point Lighthouse and Island are only possible at low tides. Extreme care and caution should be used when crossing the two hundred feet between the mainland and island. Sneaker waves at any time can threaten visitors standing on or near the rocks and the shore of Battery Point Island.
You can see how treacherous the waters are here. Just look at those rocks that are located right by the lighthouse.
The Lighthouse and its museum is open to the public for tours. A visit to the lighthouse is an opportunity to look into the personal quarters of the keepers and their families. The furniture and artifacts there were left in place since the 1850s. Tours include a climb into the light tower and there are displays of many maritime artifacts, photographs and documents that reveal the history of Battery Point.
The Lighthouse is open April through September, tides permitting, between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM, every day. October through March, tides permitting, the lighthouse is open 10 AM to 4 PM on weekends.
The address and contact information for the lighthouse is:
577 H Street
Crescent City, California 95531
Tel.: 707-464-3089 or Main Museum 707-464-3922
Would you tour this haunted lighthouse? It’s well worth a visit for the scenery and history alone, but the paranormal aspect of this destination will make an unforgettable trip.
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