Nice lighthouse. Well taken care of as far as building and the yard surrounding. Parking is limited but not impossible. No fee to park which I thought was great! Beautiful view of L.A. Harbor. Tours are only 1-4pm read more

See all

This place is Magical all day but sundown is the best. Brings back many childhood memories. The trees are spectacular. read more

As part of my whirlwind tour of Los Angeles and Orange County last weekend, we stopped to see one of the few places named after Father Fermin, who was the second banana to Father Junipero Serra. Robin to his Roman Catholic Batman, so to speak. The grounds are beautifully landscaped by the volunteers and the living quarters have been lovingly restored to harken back to their Victorian heyday. Of course, the docent made sure we understood that it wasn't so pretty or easy during the days of the lighthouse's operation. Food, water, and most goods had to be delivered since the rocky site was often isolated, windswept, and lacking in entertainment options. I guess that explains the 6 children born to the keeper and his wife - if anyone needed the entertainment value of Yelp or Al Gore's internet, it would be Mrs. Keeper. Tours happen at 1, 230, and 4 PM. The climax of the tour is to ascend the narrow and steep staircases to the little room where the lens beamed the light into the harbor. Not for the claustrophobic, those with weak tickers, or fear of heights but well worth the views. Though, I wouldn't want to be up there during one of SoCal's earthquakes. Being a fan of the Venn diagram, I'd call a visit here as the union of sets involving science, architecture, history, and natural beauty. If you're a fan of any of these subjects, come for a relaxing and informative tour. read more

I went to San Pedro for the much Yelped Korean Friendship Bell and but left my heart with the Point Fermin Lighthouse. The Lighthouse is just located down the hill from the bell at Point Fermin Park at the very end of Gaffey Street. My bf and I got lucky because I didn't research the admission hours of the lighthouse and only found out later it was open 1 PM to 4 PM, Tuesdays to Sundays. We visited on a nice Sunday in summer and were able to join in on the 3 PM tour. What struck me about the lighthouse was the pristine condition it was in and the landscaping was just gorgeous. The fencing and the areas around the house were surrounded with beautiful flowering plants. My bf told me that the sister lighthouse down in San Diego (Cabrillo) was the opposite in that it was kept in its natural state. Having now visited both lighthouses, I think the lush landscaped look was much more enjoyable to view. The park surrounding the lighthouse was also beautiful. Very green and filled with trees. It wasn't packed with tourists either. Just mostly locals enjoying a lazy summer afternoon. I'm not a picnic type of person, but this place would be a great place to have one. Sunken City is also nearby, but technically, you aren't supposed to walk in that area because its a steep cliff side and you can fall to your death. Also, my bf and I were able to get a good view of Sunken City from a distance and the place is over hyped by Yelpers - its really unremarkable compared to the lighthouse and the surrounding cliff side scenery. What's more impressive to look at are the kelp forests protruding near the shoreline at the base of the rocky cliffs. The lighthouse was built in 1874 when the closest hint of civilization was still quite a distance away in Wilmington. San Pedro and Long Beach hadn't been colonized yet. It was a desolate area and surprisingly enough, the first two keepers were sisters. There was a succession of families that took over the stewardship of the lighthouse, but the last bonafide keepers were fittingly enough, two sisters who had grown up in the lighthouse when their parents ran the place. Since then, the lighthouse has been managed by the City of LA, but during WWII, it was taken over by the US Navy. In 2002, the lighthouse was fully restored and opened to the public in 2003. Volunteers now serve as tour guides and they do a marvelous job collecting historically appropriate furniture for the lighthouse, as well as the great landscaping. For the true lighthouse buffs, the lighthouse has a 4th Order Fresnel lens. Its no longer kept at the top of the structure, which visitors are allowed to visit, but it is kept inside the lighthouse for visitors to see, I really liked the Fresnel lens - it had an art deco look to it, and would make for a great chandelier at fancy hotel or maybe even a cool looking disco ball. The volunteers go out of their way to make visitors feel welcome and they enthusiastically answer any questions you may have. They even have some lighthouse uniforms for children to try on for photo opportunities. My bf and I enjoyed our visit and I highly encourage you to visit this free historical site. In a city like LA where most old buildings are torn down to make way for the new, its nice that some structures have survived like the lighthouse to be enjoyed by future generations. There aren't a lot of parking spots in Point Fermin Park, but there is plenty of street parking in the nearby neighborhoods. read more

The lighthouse is a beautiful example of an earlier time when lighthouses were really needed for navigation. Today most lighthouses are museums or historical landmarks, to remind us of our past. This building appears to be well-maintained, however to get inside you must be there on the right day at the right time to take the tour. Maybe I'll get that to her on another time I sure hope so. But until then I can report about the outside, and say let's all go back and explore more. read more

Near the Korean Frienship bell lays a place that doesn't look like Los Angeles at all. In fact, in the film 500 days of summer this place was suppose to be some far north cliff side paradise that you'd have to take a train for.. somewhere around Santa Barbara. Yup. that's pretty much where you're transported to. Save yourself the two hour drive and just come here to witness a very similar like setting. Now, I've never been able to make it for the tour, but even without it, I haven't felt like I've missed out on anything. Walking around this place alone is beauty in itself. A great component to a weekend drive on the coast. How could you not stop by this lighthouse to see the ocean and park and take in how beautiful it all looks. Def. a point of interest you should come to on a bright sunny day. read more

Came for the Tea-by-the-Sea event. It is a quaint, dainty lighthouse, and they've done a good job restoring the house and filling with era-appropriate items from local estate sales. I don't believe I've ever seen a lighthouse bulb up close, and that was really fun. The gardens are well-maintained and pretty with all the blooms. All in all, I wouldn't go out of my way to go here, but if I'm in the area, why not? There was free yoga-in-the-park and the Korean Friendship Bell going on nearby. read more

Nice park but you may run into strange people, like the pic attached to the review. This American white lady was moving a large Boulder for unknown reasons into another section of the park. When I went past with my little dog, she tried to grab him. Also, there was a man on a customized bike, playing child's music. He was taunting people using dirty language. I took my leave, and exited as quickly as possible to avoid harm. Lighthouse is beautiful nonetheless, and worth the visit. Just be careful if you have valuables or little ones. Two thumbs up from lil pip. read more

See all

After three years living in San Pedro, I was finally able to make time to take a quick tour of the lighthouse. Tours are available Tuesday-Sunday at 1, 2, and 3 pm. Reservations are not necessary, but you can leave your name and a sticker with your time will be given to you to ensure a spot. There is no cost to visit the lighthouse, but a donation would be generous. Inside, the rooms are decorated with donated, antique furniture. According to the docent, not much of what is displayed is original, except for some personal belongings, tools, instruments, clothes, etc. The society in charge of the lighthouse did an excellent job of replicating how it may have looked inside 80-120 years ago. The rooms are smaller than I expected, but there are many. It's three levels, but if you have young children, the docent won't let you go up to the very top since it's quite steep. If you come on a sunny and warm day, strolling around the garden and lawns surrounding the house will be picturesque. The gift shop is where you gather for the tour. The shop is small and quaint with all your basic souvenirs. I was happy to purchase a nice Point Fermin ornament and postcard to display at home. read more

We were greeted by a friendly tour guide named Tennessee. She really knew her facts and was very informative about the Lighthouse and locations around the area. We all really enjoyed her guided tour and the time she took with our large group (7 kids 4 adults). We definitely want to go back and tour the top of the light house next time. Thank you so much Tennessee! read more

We didn't go inside the lighthouse -- it doesn't open until 1 p.m. on Saturdays -- but we did walk around it, enjoy the ocean views, and check out the surrounding park. The coastal park -- it's located just below the bluff on which the Friendship Bell is located -- is a wonderful place to walk, run, or just sit. The lighthouse reminds me of a house Sam Clemens would have built or lived in, and the park makes a wonderful enclosure. Near the parking area, be sure to look for the large metal ball, anchor, and other seafaring remnants. This review feels like it's more about the park than the lighthouse, but the lighthouse is what attracted us. Check it out. read more

If you are not careful, you can easily pass by this place without knowing. For one, it is not shaped like your traditional lighthouse tower; it looks more like a historical house. Secondly, it is not perched up right on the cliff (but rather at the edge of the park) so when you look at it from the street, you can't quite tell a lighthouse is there until you walk around to the front of the house. I love the that this lighthouse is different from all other lighthouses but at the same time, it can be a bit underwhelming to visit (I say this mostly because of its location). Nonetheless, it is definitely worth a stop for those lighthouse lovers out there. read more

Point Fermin Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - San Pedro, California

People have an odd fascination with lighthouses. Not saying something is wrong with that. Lighthouses are beacons of good or signals of safety. I must admit that I was more intrigued with this 1-hour tour than expected. The combination of old house, lighthouse, and ocean views was hard to resist. This lighthouse is really a house. Usually, the lightkeeper's quarters are separate from the light tower which seems silly. Train depots logically housed their employees in the station, but we never called them trainhouses. Go figure. Getting a fresh coat of paint during our visit, the 1874 structure was in great condition (aside from the small issue with the outside staircase). The free guided tour covered every room in the two-story Victorian style house along with the nest of the tower - about five floors above ground. Even with the park and the ocean views, there was plenty of free parking in the area on a Sunday afternoon. read more

Been my favorite place since I was a kid! Love visiting the White House and hiking down the cliff to thee shore. The tour is great read more

Point Fermin Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - San Pedro, California

What an amazing light. Great views of the ocean, Catalina and even the snow-capped mountains. It gets a little hot once at the top but the view is worth it. Very knowledgable tour guides and a quaint little gift shop. Spectacular grounds to picnic and spend the day. Get to the Korean Bell in winter to catch the sunset. read more

See all

Unique way to spend an afternoon. Historical, well kept, and well organized tours. They limit the number of people on a tour to 8 so it doesn't get too crowded inside the lighthouse. Inside, it is set up with period furnishings and decor. The tour guide did a great job of setting the scene and describing various details about the lighthouse. Amazing views from the top floor. Oh, and I haven't mentioned-- the entire visit is FREE! read more

I like history and this lighthouse does not disappoint. I showed up on a very quiet weekend, and just in time for the afternoon guided tour. There is no admission charge to enter, however I highly recommend leaving a donation to continue funding this wonderful opportunity, should you visit. The historical items inside give you a nice look back in time. None of it is original to the lighthouse, but was donated by the local community to provide the look and feel of the lighthouse in it's prime. You get a good sense of what life was like many years ago and I learned a few things, including the significance of the old saying "sleep tight". The lighthouse itself is small and can be explored on your own very quickly, but a lot would be missed. The guided tour is highly recommended since it gives you an opportunity to talk to the folks that know the history of the lighthouse and the surrounding area. Keep in mind that they are all volunteers from the local area. My guide was very nice and was able to answer all my questions. It is no where near the most amazing historical landmark I have ever seen, but it is a definite must if you are visiting the Los Angeles neighborhood of San Pedro! read more

The visit to the Lighthouse was awesome! Our tour guide, Glen, was such a pleasure and sooooo knowledgable!! It's free, donations are welcome, but they don't tell you or pressure you. A great experience and opportunity to learn about your community's history! read more

there is something beyond beautiful about lighthouses. it's not just the architecture involved in so many of them. it's also the concept as well and let's not forget location. sometimes they're in the ocean. others at the edge of the sea. others at the top of a cliff or a hill and they always stand out. they are a great sight to sore eyes and frazzled spirit. they represent guidance when the forces of nature seem to be prevailing. sadly, with the advent of technology many have phased out throughout the years. nevertheless, their purpose will never be forgotten. for years to find one was to breathe a huge sigh of relief. it meant you were safe, you were on your way, you found your way back, it meant you found at last your connection back from what can be a brutally isolating experience: being out, lost at sea. point fermin lighthouse is a reminder of all that. for over 100 years it served many to safety. it deserves to be remember for 100 years more and beyond. a fantastic piece of history. read more

This is my 100th Yelp. With so many wonderful places and things I have experienced, I did not know who or what or where to mark the distinction of Yelp #100. I noticed the Point Fermin Lighthouse is included in the Point Fermin Park, so I decided to Yelp the Lighthouse on its own. It is a truly remarkable, meaningful, historical, and majestic part of San Pedro and Southern California. For Michiru's Birthday I finally decided to take the one hour tour of the Point Fermin Lighthouse (also called "Light Station). It is offered every few hours most weekends. What a great tour, and our tour guide was really cool. I never distinguished between "types" houses before. Point Fermin Lighthouse is just that...a light with a house where people can and did live fairly comfortably. Of our three lighthouse in the area, Point Fermin would most likely be the most comfortable for its many residence who occupied it over the decades. The Point Fermin Lighthouse was build in 1874...now that's old. Recently I have noticed I am starting to see Historical Landmarks younger than me. I am not entirely comfortable with that. I am not say in any way I love the Point Fermin lighthouse because it is older than me, but that was nice to know. On the tour Michiru and I learned several new things I did not know both about the Lighthouse and San Pedro. In 1874 the water had to be brought in, and the lenses--a true piece of art and craftsmanship--was lost for several years making it way in to someone's private collection then finding its way back home. You will see just really cool stuff as: a actual ice box, waffle maker, original Iron, bun warmer, chamber pot, and a really awesome view of the San Pedro Coastline. It is a view which I don't think you can see anywhere else along our coast. It is really fun walking up the narrow winding stairs four stories to the top, As most know I love San Pedro and, as most now I truly believe it is the center of the Universe. So I answered the usual "where," and that was easy. What was infinitely more difficult was selecting a place was "jewel among jewels." Reconciling this was difficult because with my life in San Pedro it is truly impossible to separate the places for the memories if not "spirit" behind them. It is truly an impossibility for me, so I cannot be objective about anything, that is to say. When it comes to San Pedro, I will never be an outsider looking in, but an insider looking out...inwardly; retrospective based on intense experiential input for a life time of just "getting totally off" on the city I love. The Point Fermin Lighthouse is an old friend of mine. We have three lighthouses in the San Pedro area, Point Vicente, Angels Gat and Point Fermin. I love them all. When you think about it, where else can you find three fantastic and very distinct light houses within five miles "as a crow flies." I never understood how a crow flies, except I love birds, and we have too many crows flying around. So I guess "as a crow flies" at once point meant straight without encountering obstacles. The crows I see from my balcony fly all over the place seemingly aimlessly squawking. There are several generations of doves who have tried desperately to build their nest in the clay tile rafters in the home across from mine. For several of these generations, countless, I have watched a dove family meticulously build a nest in the small recess provided by the half tube of a single clay tiles. Almost the moment they lay a single egg, a crow flies and unceremoniously devours the "next generation." My heart aches, yet I fully recognize the crow as an opportunist feeder, who "squeezes" a dove egg in between road kill and a stray French Fry at a fast food restaurant. I don't think I like care for opportunist feeders in our animal or human kingdoms, but I guess it is a matter of survival and just that survival. Maybe this is the part of Darwinism I don't really like, I mean on those TV shows where a cheetah is chasing down a Impala, or a shark a seal, for whatever strange reason I always cheer for the prey. In this case I route for the dove, to no avail, the outcome is always the same, like watching the same movie over and over again and hoping the ending will change. It never does, so I reconciled to just write my own "movie" with a different ending, happy, positive, closure-giving. Incidentally, I am in no way blame Darwin, he is just the messenger. So the three light houses are about five miles as a "dove glides... I am glad I was able to Yelp the Point Fermin Lighthouse as number 100. See: http://www.pointferminlighthouse.org/ http://www.sanpedro.com/sp_point/ptfmlths.htm http://changmookwan.net/sanpedroinphotos/pointferminlighthouse.html read more

thank you glen for that very special tour you took us. it was fun, educational, and we had such a great time there. the light house is really cool. there is so much to know about this 170 year old house, and just the history behind this area. i really loved the kitchen. there was a cast iron waffle maker, wooden butter maker, wooden ice fridge, and the stove was really cute. read more

I did this tour about a year ago but just recently thought back to the visit. This is truly a gem in the area. The day I went was rather wild and windy so I ended up with a personal tour consisting of the tour guide (great, friendly guy who I think had done war time photography in Vietnam...something like that...it was a while ago that I did the tour!) and myself. So yeah, a one-on-one tour that was free. Of course, I did leave a generous donation. The tour itself is great and gives you a ton of interesting insight into the history of the lighthouse, its occupants and the area. Also, the view from the top of the lighthouse is great. Also, my awesome guide let me know about Sunken City - another must do literally next door to Point Fermin. Finish that up with a visit to Pavich's Pizza and the Korean Friendship Bell and you are golden. read more

My 25 year old daughter and I visited this wonderful location during one of our "field trip days" yesterday (June 9, 2011). This time we visited San Pedro, primarily because she wanted to see the Korean Friendship Bell across the street. When I was a child 40 years go, I went on many school field trips to the Point Fermin Lighthouse. But it was always closed to the public. Imagine my surprise yesterday when I discovered we could tour the structure!!! Yeah! Needless to say, it is beautiful. The gardens are even more beautiful in public (my daughter just LOVED the gardens) and there is a vegetable garden the gives the White House Kitchen Garden a run for its money ;) The entire experience was marvelous. Our tour guide was KRISTEN. She was well informed and articulate. She allowed plenty of questions and frankly, her tour was so well organized and her answers were so on point, my daughter and I agreed we would not be surprised if she was an actual teacher/professor. She said the house has been open for tours since 2003. There are spotless bathrooms and outdoor seats to use while you wait for your tour to begin. There is a small gift shop/museum. This is a must-see for out of town guest and for locals, too. read more

Cool little lighthouse located inside Point Fermin Park! Apparently, there's a history behind it too! It's the first lighthouse to be placed in the San Pedro Bay area. Built in 1874, I'm surprised at how great it still looks! Didn't get to go inside, but from the outside, it's pretty cute actually. read more

Interesting history, gorgeous views, and a great tour guide! What more could you ask for? I recommend this local place for a visit and tour.

A historical gem with a beautiful view, fiance and I visited this place because well I had to see a lighthouse having never seen one in person before. I was surprised when we walked in and was added onto a group tour of the house. We had a lovely volunteer named Jill that walked us into all the rooms and told us all about how it was living in the lighthouse, etc...too bad we had to leave to go back home to the south bay so we left the tour a bit early. So cool though to be able to go into a historical light house and get a free tour! They accept donations! read more

Check the hours of tours and operations before visiting. The volunteers are knowledgable and sweet, willing to share their personal memories and history of the light house. The park surrounding is nice for picnicking and it is located facing a nice side of the ocean and view of the Kings Angels Lighthouse as well. About a minute walk and the Korean Friendship Bell is up the Hill, which is another place to visit with history behind it. read more

Joan is right about everything except for someone living there. No one lives in the lighthouse anymore. In one of the weirder/cooler things about San Pedro, a bunch of people get together on the anniversary when this light was first lit and sing "Happy Birthday!" outloud. I know...it's San Pedro. read more

A must-do for anyone interested in antiques and historic sites, a guided tour of Point Fermin's lighthouse is well worth any trip required to San Pedro. On each floor of the lighthouse, visitors will find displays of antique furniture, clothing, kitchen appliances, and tools of the period, as well as the glass lamp that formerly served as a guiding light to seafarers. While inside the region's first lighthouse, a picturesque view of the coastline and/or the surrounding gardens are to be seen from every window. Located within Point Fermin Park, the quaint white and dark green trimmed two-storied structure with a glass-crowned tower stands at the top of San Pedro's rugged cliffs. Designed in the prevailing Stick Victorian style in 1874, the lighthouse remains as a well-tended relic. Built only twenty-four years after California's admission to the union, and nine years after the Civil War's ending, the lighthouse appears today in much the same condition as its first years, being preserved as a museum. And while charming to the eye, its exterior Early Victorian quaintness belies the labor intensive, round-the-clock efforts exerted by its former dwellers to maintain the lighthouse's nocturnal light, as well as their own day-to-day existence. Touring the lighthouse, today's visitor leaves the colorful gardens and passes through the front door to enter the authentically decorated living quarters. Walking in the foot steps of keepers past, a friendly, approachable tour docent recounts stories of the landmark and its former residents. With a bit of imagination, one can sense the rhythm of their lives and picture how keepers, some with families, might have moved about the antique chambers, engaged in their daily activities--happily, not all chores. As the visitor passes through the rooms and climbs each steep flight of stairs, the history of the lighthouse continues to unfold, culminating at the glass lantern--a chamber now lampless. Catching one's breath at the top, one is left for a while to behold the stunning 360-degree view of park landscape, ocean, and coastline before retracing the way back down to the lighthouse grounds. The afternoon tours, (free, but donations are appreciated) begin at the lighthouse gift shop, stationed in one of the white outbuildings, on Tuesdays through Sundays, at 1:00pm, 2:00pm, and 3:00pm, excepting holiday weekends and special events. These interesting and entertaining guided tours are filled with amusing historical anecdotes supplied by a knowledgeable volunteer docent from the Point Fermin Lighthouse Society. Try not to miss experiencing this intimate visit to a bygone era. read more

Cute little lighthouse! Our visit timing meant we missed the tour (wasn't open that day), but the grounds are very well taken care of, and despite the gloomy weather one had a nifty view into the sea. read more

It's an ok place to visit every now and then when in San Pedro. I usually go there with my daughter to walk around and she plays on the playground too. There are sometimes unsavory characters at the park. Sometimes walking around or parked in their cars. The last time I was there, I unknowingly parked next to some guys doing drugs in their car. It felt awkward taking my toddler out of the car to see that. read more

Great place to spend a few hours. Staff was very welcoming and very knowledgable. History of this place is so interesting. We are big fans of the history of Los Angeles and this is a home run. We were nervous about the climb into the lighthouse tower but it was surprisingly easy. The view is amazing. They survive on donations so be generous. read more

Was in the adjoining park while doing a walk and when I got back noticed the sign at the front door of the Lighthouse regarding tours. Wow, almost one o' clock, perfect. I stayed for the tour-free, but please, put some dough in the donation box, it costs $$$ to keep such a historical place so pristine, clean and well maintained! We had a small group and 2 docents, nice. The whole property has been recently renovated. A labor of love from many, many local volunteers; even the garden grounds are cared for by volunteers. The story of the lighthouse, very interesting, a real Pedro history lesson. Two sisters ran the lighthouse for many years. They have retrieved one of the original lenses that is on display in the house. We got to hear the background of the seawall and the 2nd light house at the end of the sea wall as well. I went by myself but still had so much fun. Met a few locals and a man with a brood of adorable girls. This is what vacations are all about. read more

Lots of history behind this little lighthouse. We had a tour guide who is a relative of the last lightkeepers. Needless to say we got a lot of inside info on the two women who were the last lightkeepers. You get to climb the stairs all the way to the top too. And they still have the lenses that were used to transmit the light out to sea. Definitely worth a trip to San Pedro. read more