CABRILLO NATIONAL MONUMENT
Located in San Diego, California, Cabrillo National Monument is named for the 16th Century explorer, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who was commissioned by the viceroy of New Spain to chart the coastal waters of what is now California. He was directed to find the mythical Strait of Anian (the Northwest Passage) and to look for the Seven Cities of Gold while finding new places to colonize.
Established October 14, 1913 and protecting 144 acres, Cabrillo National Monument tells the stories of 16th century exploration, 19th century lighthouses and WWI and WWII military history. Military defense systems, gun batteries, bunkers and control stations are preserved here and the Point Loma Peninsula provides terrific views of the ocean and the San Diego harbor. In late fall and winter you can visit the tide pools. Mid-winter is the best time for whale watching from Whale Outlook and the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. Gray whales migrate south from the arctic to the bays of Baja California to mate and nurse their young. Bird watching is a highlight with over 200 species recorded at the Monument alone.
Location & Local Communities: Cabrillo National Monument is located at 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, San Diego, CA 92106. The park is within 30 miles of most major San Diego attractions including Horton Plaza, Balboa Park, Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, Coronado Island, and popular San Diego destinations such as Point Loma, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla and Del Mar, Imperial Beach, as well as the Tijuana, Mexico border. Cabrillo National Monument is about an hour from San Diego’s backcountry, winery and mountain destinations including Julian, Mount Laguna, Palomar Mountain, Ramona and Escondido, and less than an hour from the northern coastal cities of Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside.
For more information call (619) 557-5450 or visit www.NPS.gov/cabr.
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