Cabrillo of San Diego Where the First Europeans Stepped
Cabrillo National Monument,
located at the southern tip of the Point Loma Peninsula in San Diego,
commemorates the landing of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay on
September 28, 1542. Thus, marking the first time a European expedition had set
foot on the West Coast of the US.
A statue of the Portuguese sailor overlooks
the ships passing in and out of the bay.
A short walk south from the statue takes one to the
Old Point Loma Lighthouse museum, marking the highest point in the park. In
1851, the site was chosen to build a lighthouse as a navigational aid. In 1854,
a first keeper moved in with his family. Robert Decatur Israel of mixed European descent was
the last lighthouse keeper and for the longest period of 18 years from 1874 to
1892. Between 1871-1873 he was an assistant lighthouse keeper. With his Mexican
wife Marie Arcadia Alipas they had four children.
Due to the fog and low clouds obscuring the visibility of the light from the ships, a new lighthouse was built at a lower elevation. In 1891, the keeper moved his family into a new lighthouse. However, he was dismissed in 1892, as the lighthouse was deactivated.
The park offers views of San Diego’s harbor and skyline, as well as Coronado and Naval Air Station North Island.
The annual Cabrillo Festival Open House, held on
Sunday in October, commemorates Cabrillo’s landing with a reenactment, offering
Kumeyaay, Portuguese, and Mexican singing, dancing, and food. The park offers
other events throughout a year, including whale watching (end of Dec. - end of
Feb).
