occupied the lighthouse. They had to light the original lens wick and keep it filled with whale oil. On many foggy nights, they would have to fire up the steam boilers to drive the foghorns, hauling coal up the long ramp from the boat. After the lighthouse was automated, the government wanted to tear down the keeper's house and other buildings, but protests from local residents prevented the demolition. The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. After several years of neglect, a non-profit group, East Brother Light Station, Inc., was formed in 1979 to restore the landmark. Government grants, private donations, and volunteer labor restored the structures on the island, which are now used for the bed-and-breakfast. See also List of lighthouses in the United States The Brothers (San Francisco Bay) References External links East Brother Light Station East Brother, CA at LighthouseFriends.com East Brother Light Station at www.us-lighthouses.com East Brother Island Light at the National Register of Historic Places Lighthouses in the San Francisco Bay Area Bed and breakfasts in California Buildings and structures in Richmond, California San Pablo Bay Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in California National Register of Historic Places in Richmond, California Lighthouses completed in 1874 1874 establishments in California Hotels established in 1980 1980 establishments in California Hotel buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in California Tourist attractions in Richmond, California Transportation buildings and structures in Contra Costa County, California