California Lighthouse

Aruba

In November on 1997, my new wife and I were fortunate enough to honeymoon in the tropics of Aruba. While enjoying the pleasures of the island, we made it a point to seek out and find the California Lighthouse. On a jeep tour of the island, we drove to the north western tip where we could drive up to the base of the lighthouse. The lighthouse was built between 1914 and 1916 on a small plateau named Hudishibana, and Aruban Indian name. The lighthouse was named after a steamship which wrecked just off the coast on September 23, 1891.

The lighthouse stands a couple of hundred yards from the Tierra del Sol Golf Course, in plain view of the town of Malmok. Adjacent to the tower are the famous California sand dunes.

The lighthouse is not open to the public, the massive door at the base is securely locked so as not to allow entry. On close inspection, one can see that the windows have been cracked and some have holes. There are streaks of rust that run down the sides of the tower from the lantern room that look like the tracks of tears from a run down tower.I think it would be great to see this tower refurbished and brought back to its glory.

Directions: the island of Aruba is 19 miles long by 6 miles wide. Take either 1B or 2B all the way to Malmok. From Malmok you will be able to see the tower in the north.

Click here for an interesting page that sells a collectible of this lighthouse.