The Point Loma Lighthouse does not work as a navigational landmark, now it is a historical landmark of the state of California. There is a museum inside where you can learn about the maritime history of the region. It is located at the mouth of San Diego Bay and attracts the attention of both locals and tourists who have arrived in the United States.
History of creation
Congress allocated funds for the opening of the Point Loma Lighthouse, construction work began in 1854. The materials were ordered from San Francisco, and the lantern with lenses was ordered from Paris. The facility was built in Cape Cod style in 1855 to help ships identify the shore so that they could quickly find their way to the harbor. A small building was attached to the lighting room, at first it was used as a warehouse for supplies.
In 1875, part of the Point Loma Lighthouse was equipped into a 2-room dwelling for the lighthouse keeper. A museum was set up in the annex when the navigation landmark stopped working. But while it was functioning, it was considered the tallest lighthouse in the entire territory of America. This was not the most convenient solution: given that the lighthouse was built on top of a 122-meter-high cliff, the light for the ships was obscured by fog and low clouds, so on foggy nights the caretaker fired blanks from a rifle. In 1891, the lighthouse's lantern was moved lower.
Short description
It is a 2-storey building with an octagonal black tower. The lighthouse of Point Loma has been operating for 36 years. In 1913, the facility and a half-acre plot of land were designated a Cabrillo National Monument to erect a statue of the great conquistador and navigator Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo.
Despite this, the opening of the monument was postponed for a long time. In 1935, the lighthouse underwent major repairs, then a new road was laid to the monument. In 1949, a statue of Cabrillo appeared next to the lighthouse, which was donated by the Portuguese Government. In 1984, the Point Loma Lighthouse was lit in honor of its 130th anniversary. In honor of this, a large celebration was organized, which brought together 3,000 people, among the guests were the descendants of the first lighthouse keepers, the families of Robert and Maria Israelf. It's hard to imagine how their children got to school, because they had to swim across the bay to get to school.
The museum displays lenses, maps with historical documents, and furniture and household items of the caretakers who lived in the 19th century. The tower welcomes guests on November 15, the birthday of the lighthouse, and on April 25, the birthday of the National Park Service, the rest of the time it is closed. People come to this picturesque place to find a balance between natural beauty, history and relaxation. Themed events are often held near the lighthouse.
How to get
Point Loma Lighthouse can be reached in about 20 minutes by taxi or rented car from downtown San Diego. The cheapest way to get there is by bus No84, you need to get off at the Cabrillo National Monument stop and walk 5-7 minutes. Sometimes people come here by bike through the coastal areas. In addition to the lighthouse, you can see the monument to the first European, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who set foot on California soil and went down in history. Coronado Shores Beach is located 6.5 kilometers away.
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