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Quinn's
Lighthouse Restaurant & Pub serves high quality,
eclectic food and drink in a cheerful, historic landmark lighthouse
originally built in 1890. The building was rebuilt in 1903
by the U.S. Lighthouse Service as the Oakland Entrance Lighthouse.
The
building was moved to its current location in 1965.Quinn's, in
its current form, was established in 1984, after a complete renovation
of the building. Great care and respect was taken to preserve
the structure and the historic features of the building. We hope
to share this salty, rich history with all our patrons. |
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– The
Quinn's building was constructed in 1903 as the Oakland Harbor
Entrance Lighthouse by the U.S. Lighthouse Service. It cost
$19,000 and replaced the original 1890 structure, which had
been badly damaged by marine borers. The building, which was
located on the north side of the entrance to the Oakland Estuary,
served as a house for two lighthouse keepers and their families
until the lighthouse service became part of the Coast Guard
in 1939. From 1939, until the structure was moved to this location
in 1965, the families of the keepers lived ashore. |
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Originally,
the lanternroom contained a 5TH Order Fresnel lens, which produced
a flashing white light every 5 seconds that could be seen for
14 miles. A giant 3,500 lb. fog bell was located on the porch
and struck every 5 seconds during periods of fog. In 1918,
the fog signal was changed from a bell to an air powered diaphone
for a signal which sounded a 2 second blast every 15 seconds.
As we approach the end of the Twentieth
Century, we are at the end of an era. The era of the lighthouse,
after two thousand years, is over. No more will man construct
soaring towers of brick of lovely Victorian lades laced with "gingerbread".
Todays modern navigation aids are comprised of rotating aero-beacons
surrounding nonopoles, controlled and monitored by unseeing
hands at some remote station. The days of the lighthouse as
a structure to house the keeper and his family are over. Several
lighthouses, however, have been preserved as museums, or in
the case of L.J. QUINN's, a restaurant, as a reminder of our
maritime heritage and as a tribute to those faithful "wickies" (affectionate
term for the keepers), who served the mariner and humanity
with such dedication for so many years. |
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