Landmark #51 | San Diego County | Visited: April 21, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
What is it? | The Old Point Loma Lighthouse still stands! |
What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: This lighthouse, built in 1854, was one of the first eight lighthouses on the Pacific Coast. It continued in use until 1891, when the new Pelican Point Lighthouse began operating. The Point Loma Lighthouse became the site of the Cabrillo National Monument in 1913. During World War II, the Navy used it as a signal tower. Today the lighthouse remains the central feature of the Point Loma Preserve.
OTHER TIDBITS: Placing the lighthouse so high at 422 feet seemed like a good idea at first, but as any coastal Californian knows after a season, summer brings heavy fog! The Point Loma Lighthouse was so high up on the rock that the fog often smothered the light entirely! The lighthouse keeper, who already had to row across San Diego Bay just to get groceries, had to put forth the additional effort on foggy nights of firing a shotgun to warn off any nearby ships that couldn’t see the light! This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places! |
How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma San Diego, CA 92106 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~124mi (200km) — 2.1hrs |
When should I go? | Cabrillo National Monument is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM! |