San Diego county real estate
City: Point Loma
End of Cabrillo Memorial Drive, SR 201 on Point Loma
.
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
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