With the advent of the California Gold Rush, California becoming a state and the resulting settlement of the area, sea travel greatly increased. The steep, rocky cliffs, unpredictable currents along with few natural harbors of the west coast, lighthouses became necessary. In the late 1850s sixteen lighthouses were built from Pt. Loma in the south to Cape Flattery, Washington. Old Pt. Loma Lighthouse is one of the original eight built and was the southern-most and highest beacon of light in the United States during its 36 years of operation.

Life in a lighthouse was lonely, cramped and often hard, by our standards. The duties of the keeper and his assistant were to clean and polish the lens, fit and trim the wicks, and clean and fill the lamp. The lamp burned whale oil, later lard oil and finally kerosene. The keeper and his assistant alternated watches and kept the light burning from sunset to sunrise. The light at Pt. Loma was visible for more than twenty miles on a clear night.

You can visit the Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego and see for yourself what life for the keeper and his family was like. The Monument has a lot more to offer visitors--glimpses into the history of the Native Americans and the first Europeans to step foot on the west coast of the United States; a look at the military history of Pt. Loma; seasonal whale watching; tidepools; birdwatching; hiking; wildlife and wildflower viewing; incredible views of the harbor, the Pacific Ocean and the giant kelp forests; and a chance to explore a truly unique diversity of habitat where the ocean meets land.

The Cabrillo National Monument is located in the city of San Diego at the end of Point Loma. It is approximately 160 acres and is open for day use only. There is a Visitor Center, a bookstore, the statue of Cabrillo, a military history exhibit, the lighthouse and whale and harbor overlooks. There are self-guiding exhibits along walkways and overlooks that explain the plants, animals and history of the area.

The Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo and the Age of Exploration exhibit is a must see. This fun, interactive exhibit shows the dramatic voyage of Cabrillo as he and his crew made their way up the treacherous California coastline. The exhibit also shows the connectivity and the influence the 16th century Spanish explorers had on the development of the western United States. (Photo to right - Actor/Living Historian William Doyle portrays the Lighthouse Keeper in the restored Parlour of the lighthouse.)

Nature lovers will appreciate the coastal sage and chaparral habitat, one of the most sensitive and rare ecosystems in the world. Conservatively there are more than 300 species of terrestrial plants, over 50 species of lichen, 400+ marine plants and animals, 30 mammals, more than 250 bird species, 13 reptiles and amphibians, and 300 terrestrial invertebrates. This does not include what swims in the largest and best-studied kelp forest on the West Coast.

From December to late February more than 20,000 gray whales migrate from Alaska to the warm lagoons of Baja California, passing just offshore at Point Loma. The high cliffs here make a superb vantage point and the old Point Loma lighthouse offers whale-watchers a glassed-in observatory with telescopes.

This is definitely a destination that makes for a great family outing; is a nature lovers paradise; and is a history buffs dream come true. More information is available on www.nps.gov/cabr. (Photo of the Cabrillo Statue overlooking the bay by Lisa Smith)