 The construction lasted more than 500 days by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the leadership of George Lewis Gillespie, Jr.The cost of $125,000, at the time (equivalent to $ today), was the most expensive West Coast lighthouse ever built, later surpassed by the St. George Reef Light off the northern California coast.In early January 1881, when the lighthouse was near completion, the barque "Lupatia" was sailing in thick fog and high winds when the ship's Captain noticed that they were too close to shore.