Cabrillo National Monument
2010.12.24
After visiting Old Town San Diego, in the afternoon we drove out on Point Loma to the Cabrillo National Monument. The hilly penninsula overlooks the mouth of San Diego Bay.
In 1542, Portuguese explorer João Rodrigues Cabrilho (Cabrillo in Spanish) led a naval expedition to explore the west coast of North America for Spain. They were the first Europeans to navigate the coast of California, and reached San Diego Bay in late September of that year.
The southern tip of Point Loma was designated Fort Rosencrans in 1852. A National Cemetary was established there in 1882. The Army maintained a coastal artillery battery from 1898 to 1945. Later the facility was turned over to the Navy.
A portion of the military base was set aside in 1913 for a monument, but the statue was not comissioned until 1939.
On a clear day, the monument offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, San Diego Bay, Coronado peninsula, San Diego, and the mountains beyond.
A short hike away is the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, built in 1854. The third-order Fresnel lens was first lit in November, 1855. The light was 462 feet above sea level, making it the highest in the United States. Unfortunately, it was often shrouded in fog. After only thirty-six years, a new lighthouse was constructed at the base of Point Loma. The old lighthouse building fell into disrepair, but was restored in the 1980’s. The reconstructed assistant keeper’s dwelling houses a Fresnel lens along with photos and information about the lighthouse.
Old Town