Point Loma seems somehow tucked away from the
main portion of the City of San Diego. Home to a Portuguese community which
holds one of San Diego's oldest festivals there in June, the history of
San Diego is very much tied to this region. High atop a hill overlooking
the San Diego bay you can see everything. When
the famed America's Cup was hosted in the city, this was the spot to watch
the race. It's no wonder that this spot was chosen to build Point Loma
Light House.
Point Loma was one of the original 8 west coast lighthouses,
built in 1855 in the Cape Cod style that was used
for all of them. The forty foot tower rises from the
center of the keeper's house, fitted with a third-order
fresnel lens. A5 foot, 3rd order fresnel lens
from France and was installed. At dusk on November 15, 1855, the keeper
climbed the winding stairs and lit the oil lamp for the first time. In
clear weather its light was visible at sea for 25 miles.
The Lighthouse Board often built these early west coast
lights high up on hills, as was the custom in New England. This tactic failed
in the west, as the light often shone above the low-lying fog that is prevalent
along the Pacific coast, making the light useless to passing ships. As a
result, Pt. Loma served for only 36 years before being
replaced in 1891 by a skeletal tower built near sea level.
Today Old Point Loma Lighthouse is the centerpiece of
Cabrillo National Monument, with a spectacular view of San Diego Harbor. The
Old Point Loma Lighthouse was in operation from 1855 to 1891. Standing
422 feet above sea level, its design did not take into account fog and
weather conditions common to the region. Many times ships could not
see its beacon. So a new light house was erected
down the hill closer to the water. The National Park Service has refurbished the
Ranger-led talks, displays and brochures are available to explain the
lighthouses
interesting past.
Offering one of the best vistas of the bay, the grounds
provide a home to a variety of plants and animals. Self-guided tours, films
and lectures and a gift store offer information, including historical books,
maps and souvenirs. Also visit "New" Point Loma Lighthouse near Whale
Overlook, 100 yards south of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. From December
to March, Pacific gray whales can be seen from the park's western overlooks
as they make their annual migration. The area offers
dramatic views of the New Point Loma Lighthouse, the Pacific Ocean, and Mexico's
far-off Coronado Islands.
Although the lighthouse is open,
it's not in operation. There's a second lighthouse
located on the grounds which was used as the primary lighthouse. Global positioning GPS satellites have largely
diminished the utility of lighthouses
in the United States.
Climb the spiral staircase to view a fresnel lens. It
is used to send out a beacon of light visible at night
to sailors navigating the San Diego harbors.
You'll also find Cabrillo Monument paying tribute to Spanish explorer Juan
Cabrillo, on the National Parks Service grounds here. On September
28, 1542 Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo landed at San Diego Bay. This event marked
the first time that Europeans had set foot on what later became the west
coast of the United States. Six days later, he departed San Diego sailing
northward and exploring the uncharted coast line of California. His contributions
helped to dispel myths and misconceptions, and allowed his contemporaries
to proceed with the difficult task of colonizing the expanded Spanish Empire.
His accomplishments were memorialized in 1913 with the establishment of
Cabrillo National Monument. Cabrillo National Monument offers programs
and a small museum about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a superb view of San
Diego harbor, the Pacific Ocean, and the winter Gray
Whale migration. The Old Point Loma Lighthouse, Fort Rosecrans coastal
defense remains, a coastal sage scrub ecosystem, and the Cabrillo Tidepools
are preserved here by the National Park Service.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
The Annual Cabrillo Festival is held each year on the
weekend closest to September 28, commemorating the arrival of Juan Rodriguez
Cabrillo in San Diego. Cultural dances, food, and re-enactment of Cabrillo's
landing are all part of the festival activities. The third weekend in January
is celebrated as Whale Watch Weekend. Activities include special programs
about marine life, assistance by park rangers in spotting whales, and entertainment.
The Monument is located on the southern tip of Point Loma,
approximately 10 miles from the city of San Diego. Follow
State Highway 209 south, from Interstate Highways I-5 and I-8, to the tip
of Point Loma. Cabrillo National Monument
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive San Diego, CA 92106-3601(619)
557-5450
