The National Lighthouse Day celebration at Piedras Blancas Light Station Aug. 4 was enjoyed by 107 visitors. Enactors in 1890 period attire brought the historic district to life. One keeper was busy repairing a door, another was painting the fence and the third was preparing to clean the lens in the lighthouse. One of the keepers’ wives shared insights into their lives, another was busy doing laundry. The grown daughter of one the keepers shared her boredom from living at the light station and her desire to move elsewhere to begin her life. Cookies baked from an old lighthouse recipe were served. National Lighthouse Day is in observance of the signing of the Lighthouse Act by George Washington on Aug. 7, 1789. The Lighthouse Act placed the nation’s lighthouses under federal administration. Although many lighthouses are now managed by other agencies or organizations, Piedras Blancas is still under federal management. The Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior, is following the wishes of the local community to restore the site, offer public access and continue scientific research. Tours are offered Monday through Saturday until Aug. 31. From Sept. 1 through June 15 tours are offered on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings. Meet at the former Piedras Blancas Motel, located 1.5 miles north of the light station gate at 9:45. Tours last 2 hours and include a 1/2 mile interpretive trail with spectacular scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities. The fee is $10 for adults, $5 for ages 6-17, and there is no fee for ages 5 and under. For more information call 805-927-7361 or email PiedrasBlancasTours@gmail.com.

CAMBRIAN PHOTO BY MERLE BASSETT