Bay Lights Sculpture on the Bay Bridge

Returning March 2025

A Jewel in the San Francisco Skyline

A bit of Bay Lights History

The Bay Lights were removed from the bridge in March 2015 (per the original permit) to allow Caltrans to perform maintenance on the cables. ILLUMINATE raised $4 million to ensure The Bay Lights’ re-installation, in time to shine for Super Bowl 50 in February 2016. The final raise was made possible by Bay Area philanthropist Tad Taube, whose $2 million challenge grant inspired other donors to give the remaining amount needed to re-install the sculpture.

The 1st grand re-lighting was on January 30, 2016. The re-installed sculpture uses all-new, robust LEDs designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions over time.

The Bay Lights artwork has been gifted to the State of California for ongoing stewardship. Following the precedent of the necklace lights that were added to the suspension cables in 1986 and became a fixture of the Bay Bridge in 1989, The Bay Lights will become a permanent part of the western span, maintained by Caltrans.

The Future

Update: The Bay Lights are set to make a dazzling return to the Bay Bridge in March 2025.

The upcoming “The Bay Lights 360” installation, orchestrated by Illuminate, will double the original count to 50,000 lights. First launched in 2013, the “Bay Lights” were deactivated in March 2023 due to environmental wear on the bridge. The revamped display will be mounted along the northern edge of the western span, featuring the familiar abstract patterns. In a new twist, the lights will encircle the cables, making the spectacle visible from Bayview, as well as from Oakland, Alameda, and Berkeley across the bay.

San Francisco Bay’s iconic public art installation, The Bay Lights, has gone dark after a decade of illuminating the region’s nightscape. The system of LEDs failed due to the harsh environmental conditions of the Bay area.

However, an ambitious plan to bring the artwork back to life has emerged, featuring nearly 50,000 programmable LEDs, twice the number of the original installation. The new lights will not only be visible to communities around the Bay, but for the first time, they will also be visible to drivers on the Bay Bridge.

The plan requires $11M to complete, and major philanthropists have already committed over $6M to the cause. Arts nonprofit Illuminate is leading the effort and is relying on crowdfunding to raise the remaining dollars.

The Bay Lights, created by artist Leo Villareal, was a beloved public art project that attracted visitors from around the world. Its return would be a boon for the Bay area’s cultural scene.

The crowdfunding campaign offers an opportunity for anyone to contribute to the restoration of this public art masterpiece. While the project’s goal is ambitious, it is a testament to the Bay Area’s commitment to the arts and its belief in the transformative power of public art.

The Bay Lights has left an indelible mark on San Francisco Bay’s cultural landscape, and its return in MARCH 2025, promises to once again enchant and inspire visitors and residents alike.

San Francisco Bay Bridge lights
Photo By Nicholas Hartmann [CC BY-SA 4.0 ]

THE BAY LIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

• 1.8 MILES: length of The Bay Lights from end to end (approximately 26.4 football fields)

• 12 INCHES: space between individual LED lights in strands mounted on each cable

• 500 FEET: height of the installation to the tallest point

• 300: number of vertical cables on the bridge that fitted with LED lights

• 240 FEET: length of the longest bridge cable

• 2 FEET: length of the shortest bridge cable

• 728: number of power and data boxes used in the light sculpture system

• 100,000 FEET: linear feet of cable for power, fiber and Cat 5 wires in the system • $8 MILLION: total cost of the initial project to make The Bay Lights a reality

• 50 MILLION: The estimated number of people dazzled by The Bay Lights during its initial two-year presence

• $1 BILLION: an estimate of dollars The Bay Lights will add to the local economy over 10 years after re-installation

Jump Aboard these Other Fun Tours and Rentals to Explore San Francisco

Electric Scooter Rentals: Alternatively, rent a GPS guided electric scooter with an onboard narrated GoRide tour to the Golden Gate Bridge!

San Francisco Jeep Tours: Buckle in and explore the city with an entertaining driving tour of San Francisco or a trip over the Golden Gate Bridge to walk among the Giant Redwood trees.

San Francisco Jeep Tours will drive you and up to 6 guests in a convertible Jeep. You’ll see all the iconic sites and attractions on exclusive routes with a fun and experienced tour guide.

Nearby Points of Interest

Union Square: Just 1.3 miles northeast. It offers hours of shopping, dining, and people-watching.

Chinatown: is a few blocks from Union Square, and the Westfield Shopping Centre is even closer on Market Street.

Alcatraz Island: this island prison is now a famous tourist attraction, but in its heyday, it housed the era’s most infamous prisoners. Inmates could hear laughter carried across the water from the city, and many attempted the one-mile swim to land. Visit today for a tour!

Coit Tower: don’t miss the panorama from the 210-foot high tower, which offers views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Angel Island, the Bay Bridge, and the San Francisco skyline.

North Beach / Little Italy: Little Italy offers a variety of bars, comedy clubs, and authentic Italian restaurants. Try some focaccia bread, or take a walk in the relaxing green space of Washington Square.

Checking Out the Bay Lights is featured on:

Evening Tour

Night View of Bay Bridge and Coit Tower from San Francisco

Night Private Charter San Francisco Lights Tour

From$78

Explore San Francisco at night in a cozy, electric Tuk Tuk! Get up close to the glittering lights and go where buses don’t dare in this modern-day rickshaw. Fully guided sightseeing tour with an entertaining tour guide.

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Bay Lights Sculpture on the Bay Bridge – Returning March 2025