When the first eight lighthouses for the west coast were authorized in1850, three were designated for the San Francisco Bay area: the Farallon Islands, Alcatraz and Fort Point. After some controversy, the contract was awarded to Baltimore, Maryland firm and a ship set sail for the west coast. By 1852, workhad started on the lighthouses. A single design of a Cape Cod-style building with a tower through the middle was selected. During construction of the lighthouses, the new Lighthouse Board assumed control and issued a change order to the contractor: he was not to install the old-style reflector system in the lantern rooms. The Board added that Fresnel lenses from France would be sent for use on the west coast. Additionally, a new lantern room design was to be used.
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