Cabrillo National Monument San Diego

Cabrillo National Monument (part of the National Parks Service) on a hilltop on San Diego's Point Loma pays tribute to Spanish explorer Juan Cabrillo, who sailed into the San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542.

This event marked the first time that Europeans had set foot on what later became the west coast of the United States. Six days later, he departed San Diego sailing northward and exploring the uncharted coast line of California. His contributions helped to dispel myths and misconceptions, and allowed his contemporaries to proceed with the difficult task of colonizing the expanded Spanish Empire.

His accomplishments were memorialized in 1913 with the establishment of Cabrillo National Monument. Cabrillo National Monument offers programs and a small museum about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a superb view of San Diego harbor, the Pacific Ocean, and the winter Gray Whale migration.

The Old Point Loma Lighthouse, and Fort Rosecrans coastal defense remains, a coastal sage scrub ecosystem, and the Cabrillo Tidepools are preserved here by the National Park Service.

The Annual Cabrillo Festival is held each year on the weekend closest to September 28, commemorating the arrival of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in San Diego. Cultural dances, food, and re-enactment of Cabrillo's landing are all part of the festival activities.

The third weekend in January is celebrated as Whale Watch Weekend. Activities include special programs about marine life, assistance by park rangers in spotting whales, and entertainment.

The Monument is located on the southern tip of Point Loma, approximately 10 miles from the city of San Diego. Follow State Highway 209 south, from Interstate Highways I-5 and I-8, to the tip of Point Loma. Cabrillo National Monument 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive San Diego, CA 92106-3601(619) 557-5450 San Diego