NPS Website; Local Website
WHAT IS IT?A monument and memorial to Spanish explorer and conquistador, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European to explore the western coast of the now United States.
BEAUTY (7/10)
Cabrillo NM rests at the tip of Point Loma, a rocky peninsula that stands above San Diego. The harbor view is gorgeous but falls short of stunning because the City to the east is nondescript; it has no prominent skyscrapers or landforms. Your harbor views consist primarily of military ships and freighters.
Of greater interest is the beautiful Pacific Ocean to the west. Its beaches boast tidepools teeming with starfish, hermit crabs, fish and sea plants that captivate visitors, especially Gab. Cabrillo NM offers front row seats to these beautiful constantly changing and moving microcosms.
For sea creatures of a larger variety, visit Cabrillo NM between December and February for whale migrations.
HISTORICAL INTEREST (7/10)
Three National Park Sites examine early Spanish New World exploration, Coronado NMEM, Desoto NMEM and Cabrillo NM. All three conquistadores were extraordinarily unsuccessful; none found gold and only Coronado escaped a gruesome death.
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo is the least known of the three. His impact on the American mainland was minimal; he spent extended amounts of time only on the Channel Islands (where he died of gangrene) and later explorers changed all his place names.
The Park tells of Cabrillo’s previous life as a conquistador in Mexico and Guatemala and of his skills as a crossbowman. Later in life, he became a wealthy shipbuilder and landowner. The Site delves into a wide array of historical topics, including the construction and sailing of Spanish galleons, Cortés’ battle at Tenochtitlán with the Aztec leader Moctezuma, the effects of the unquenchable Spanish thirst for gold.
CROWDS (7/10)Cabrillo NM had a larger crowd than we had expected; we snuck into the last seats in the 100+ Seat Theater. The crowds heightened our excitement and did not interfere with our Museum visit. The Site seems well prepared for its large visitation numbers.
EASE OF USE/ACCESS (5/5)
The Monument is located just a few miles from downtown San Diego, one of America’s largest cities. From both Interstates 5 and 8, take the Rosecrans Street Exit and travel to the southwest. Turn right onto Cañon and then left onto Catalina Blvd. Catalina Blvd. turns into Cabrillo Memorial Drive once you enter the U.S. Naval Reservation. Catalina/Cabrillo is the only major north south road on the Point Loma Peninsula. In addition, there are plenty of NPS signs at all freeway exits and all turns. You should have no trouble finding Cabrillo NM.
There is ample parking on site, but if you do not want to drive the Route 26 bus line travels from Old Town San Diego to Cabrillo NM.
CONCESSIONS/BOOKSTORE (3/5)
The sprawling bookstore sells fewer books than its spacious quarters may suggest. Most of the stacks repeat titles and its collection is far from definitive. We were intrigued by the hand-made Native American leaf baskets as well as the whale and lighthouse jigsaw puzzles. Michael loves jigsaw puzzles.
COSTS (3/5)
Entrance is $5 per vehicle, free with the National Parks Pass.
RANGER/GUIDE TO TOURIST RATIO (3/5)
Two Rangers staffed the Visitor Center and another dressed in Spanish sailor regalia led a school group. He was so in character that he kind of scared us. A Ranger told us that Ranger-led programs sometimes happen on the weekends.
TOURS/CLASSES (7/10)The displays and films at Cabrillo cover a wide array of topics with surprising ease and admirable depth. The Visitor Center Museum looks brand new and highlights western Spanish New World expeditions and their maritime expertise. The life-size hyper-realistic conquistador mannequins scared us almost as much as their walking counterpart.
Rooms in the Old Point Loma Lighthouse have been refurnished and are open for self-guided tours. Watch yourself on the spiral staircase. Nearby, a small museum explains the inner-workings of a Lighthouse operation.
The NPS shows three different films at Cabrillo NM, all on the hour, in a large theater. We watched the excellent In Search of Cabrillo that follows a handsome young narrator (soap opera star?) on foot throughout Mexico and in a yacht up the coast of California tracing Cabrillo’s historic routes. The film helped put a geographic face to the amazing expedition and was a perfect introduction to the Site.
FUN (8/10)
The compact Cabrillo NM consists of six mini-attractions, nice by themselves but a terrific half-day when seen together. They are: 1) San Diego Harbor views from the Cabrillo Monument; 2) Pacific Ocean views from the Whale Overlook; 3) Lighthouse History at Old Point Loma; 4) A Colonial Spanish Maritime history lesson at the Museum and Theater; 5) A Coastal Defense Military History Exhibit and 6) Tidepools bustling with ocean life.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND? (8/10)Cabrillo NM makes a perfect introduction to San Diego, both visually and historically. We had a great time at the Site, despite having our views hampered by a rare cloudy day. Balboa Park and the Zoo are the city’s iconic destinations, but if you are visiting, try not to miss the diverse Cabrillo NM.
TOTAL 58/80
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