Old Point Loma Lighthouse!

Old Point Loma Lighthouse
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:

  • Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
  • Volunteer at Cabrillo National Monument!
  • Donate to the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation!
  • Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
Where is this place? LISTED DIRECTIONS:
Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma
San Diego, CA 92106

ANNOTATIONS:
The lighthouse is just south of the main parking lot. You can’t miss it!

From Los Angeles: ~124mi (200km) — 2.1hrs
From Sacramento: ~508mi (818km) — 8.5hrs
From San Diego: ~11mi (18km) — 0.2hrs
From San Francisco: ~505mi (813km) — 8.5hrs

When should I go? Cabrillo National Monument is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM!

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

Click here to see more California historical landmarks!

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