Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo led the first European expedition exploring the what is now the US’s Pacific Coast. He arrived in San Diego bay in September of 1542 and declared it a “very good, enclosed port.” The National Monument commemorating his journey was established in 1913.

The Old Point Loma Lighthouse is a short walk away from the statue of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. The lighthouse was built 422 feet above sea level. It seemed like a perfect spot to serve as both a harbor light and coastal beacon. Unfortunately, the light was often obscured by low-lying fog and clouds. The lighthouse was in service from 1855-1891, when construction of a new lighthouse on lower ground was completed. You can walk through the old lighthouse and see how the Keeper and his family lived when the kids had to row a boat across the bay to Old San Diego to get to school.

At the western entrance to Cabrillo there are also outlooks from which, in season, you can see the annual migration of Pacific Gray Whales. Tide pools below are home to anemones, octopus, troglodyte chitons, sea hares, crabs and a wide variety of mollusks among a variety of other creatures.

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