The Coronado area is full of fun, beaches, shops, and history. When you visit the Cabrillo National Monument, you’ll be able to learn about and appreciate this history in person. The monument is named after an early explorer and is a fun, interactive way to learn more about California’s history.
What is the Cabrillo National Monument?
This monument is part of the Cabrillo National Park, one of California’s state parks. Cabrillo National Park is named after Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. He is an explorer who first sailed from Mexico to Southern California back in 1542. The park is owned by the National Parks Service, and has been largely expanded since it first began. Originally, president Woodrow Wilson wanted a monument built to honor Cabrillo, but the state has since expanded the area and declared it a national park.
Where is the park?
Cabrillo National Park is located on the southern tip of the Point Loma Peninsula in San Diego. From this point, you’ll be able to see the San Diego skyline as well as the naval base on Coronado Island.
What can I do at the Cabrillo National Monument?
There are so many options for activities at the Cabrillo National Monument. You can go hiking, whale watching, tidepooling, and more!
Hike up the Bayside trail for incredible ocean views or the Coastal trail for views of the ocean and a route to the tidepools. In the winter, you can spot pods of Pacific gray whales migrating south.
There are also many opportunities to learn about the history of Point Loma. Living History is one of the most unique ways to do so. In order to bring history to life, many actors and actresses reenact life as it was in the 1500s to the 1800s. You’ll be able to get up close to these actors and get a much more hands-on experience–you might even be able to try on some historically traditional clothing! By doing this, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of what life used to be like: and you might discover that you have more in common with these historic people than you thought!
You can also embrace the historical significance of Cabrillo by visiting one of the museums. There’s even a fully sailable replica of the San Salvador, the ship Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo used to arrive at Point Loma.
Old Point Loma Lighthouse
This lighthouse has been an iconic part of San Diego since 1854. The Point Loma lighthouse was fully operational until 1891. Now, you can go inside and explore what is now a museum. You might even run into some living history inside and “meet” the last lighthouse keeper, Captain Israel. Inside the lighthouse, you can see the former living quarters of the keeper and his family as well.
Have you visited Cabrillo National Monument?
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