Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego

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The Cabrillo National Monument was
established in 1913, to commemorate
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo's voyage of
discovery.

We had a great time here, great place
with alot of history for the whole family.

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Cabrillo National Monument, located at the tip of Point Loma, is a great place to get panoramic views of much of San Diego County and into Tijuana, Mexico. The monument is at the top of a hill and on very clear days, you can see the local mountains about 40 miles inland to the east and the Coronado Islands to the south (part of Mexico). This national monument is named after Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who led the first European exploration of the West Coast of North America. Legend has it that he stepped ashore at what is present day Ballast Point, which you can see below you when you are at the visitor's center. You can also visit the old Point Loma Lighthouse, a 19th century lighthouse that guided ships into San Diego Bay until a more modern lighthouse was built closer to the water. There are also several nature hikes you can take at the Monument, and you can also visit tidepools. To get here, you'll have to drive through a US Naval Installation, and you'll also pass by Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. There is a visitor's center with historical information, as well as a gift shop. Parking is free but there is an entrance fee to get into the national monument - the fee allows you to return as many times as you'd like within one week. They are open 365 days a year but just be aware in the late spring (May and June), views are often obsured by the marine layer, which are low lying clouds that roll onshore from the ocean in the afternoon and are affectionately referred to by the locals as "May Gray" and "June Gloom."

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The Portuguese explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo led the first European expedition to land on the west coast of America and discovered Point Loma peninsula in 1542.

Atop Point Loma stand the star attraction, the four and half meter high, sandstone Cabrillo statue by Alvaro de Bree, a gift of Portugal to the state of California. The statue had long been sought by San Diegans, particularly by the Portuguese community, as one of their own.
The actual spot where Cabrillo stepped ashore is on a spit of land downhill at Ballast Point. This magnificent statue is a worthy tribute to the brave explorer and his men, who ventured across uncharted seas to claim new territory for Spain.
The original sculpture has been badly damaged in the salty ocean air and was brought indoors for restoration. An exact replica from denser limestone was dedicated in 1988.

At the highest point of the park stands the Old Lighthouse providing a panoramic view of the harbor and coastline, On clear days you can see the downtown, Mexican border and far out to sea. From here, you can watch as boats and ships go in and out of the harbor. With luck, you may even see the Marines practicing airborne or amphibious assaults, or Navy warships patrolling the coastline. It is an ideal spot for solitude and contemplation.

In the visitor center you can find a museum, bookstore, gift shop, some vending machines offering snack food, and a small theatre, showing films about the history of the park.

Open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm. For security reasons, the main gate is closed at 4:45pm, and all visitors have to leave by 5:00pm.

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At the highest point of the park stands the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which has been a San Diego icon since 1854. The lighthouse was closed in 1891, and a new one opened at a lower elevation, because fog and low clouds often obscured the light at its location 129 meters (422 feet) above sea level.
Pacific Ocean Seen from Cabrillo National Monument, Including the New Point Loma Lighthouse and Coronado Islands

The area encompassed by the national monument includes various former military installations, such as coastal artillery batteries, built to protect the harbor of San Diego from enemy warships. Many of these installations can be seen while walking around the area. A former army building hosts an exhibit that tells the story of military history at Point Loma.

The annual Cabrillo Festival Open House is held each October on Sunday. It commemorates Cabrillo with a reenactment of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo landing at Ballast Point, in San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542.

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At the highest point of the park stands the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which has been a San Diego icon since 1854. The lighthouse was closed in 1891, and a new one opened at a lower elevation, because fog and low clouds often obscured the light at its location 129 meters (422 feet) above sea level.
Pacific Ocean Seen from Cabrillo National Monument, Including the New Point Loma Lighthouse and Coronado Islands

The area encompassed by the national monument includes various former military installations, such as coastal artillery batteries, built to protect the harbor of San Diego from enemy warships. Many of these installations can be seen while walking around the area. A former army building hosts an exhibit that tells the story of military history at Point Loma.

4 more images

At the highest point of the park stands the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which has been a San Diego icon since 1854. The lighthouse was closed in 1891, and a new one opened at a lower elevation, because fog and low clouds often obscured the light at its location 129 meters (422 feet) above sea level.
Pacific Ocean Seen from Cabrillo National Monument, Including the New Point Loma Lighthouse and Coronado Islands

The area encompassed by the national monument includes various former military installations, such as coastal artillery batteries, built to protect the harbor of San Diego from enemy warships. Many of these installations can be seen while walking around the area. A former army building hosts an exhibit that tells the story of military history at Point Loma.

4 more images

At the highest point of the park stands the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which has been a San Diego icon since 1854. The lighthouse was closed in 1891, and a new one opened at a lower elevation, because fog and low clouds often obscured the light at its location 129 meters (422 feet) above sea level.
Pacific Ocean Seen from Cabrillo National Monument, Including the New Point Loma Lighthouse and Coronado Islands

The area encompassed by the national monument includes various former military installations, such as coastal artillery batteries, built to protect the harbor of San Diego from enemy warships. Many of these installations can be seen while walking around the area. A former army building hosts an exhibit that tells the story of military history at Point Loma.

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The first time we visited here it was really foggy, a shame because on a clear day you can see to Mexico and the views from Cabrillo National Monument are incredible. We were happy to visit on a clear day this time and enjoy the views of the bay, the city and the many ships and sailboats below.
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo,was a Portuguese explorer, who departed from Mexico to explore the west coast of what is present day California. He was the first European explorer to navigate the coast and on September 28, 1542, he landed in what is now San Diego Bay and named it "San Miguel". A national monument in his likeness was constructed in 1913 at the tip of the Point Loma Peninsula. There is also a museum and visitor center to explore the history of this area. This area is a great spot to take photos of San Diego,learn some of its history and take in the beauty of southern California.
Cabrillo National Monument is the most southwesterly spot in the contiguous United States.