The finger of the land at the edge of San Diego Bay called Point Loma seems to be the perfect site for a lighthouse. In fact, the word loma means hill, and you can understand why people in the 1850s chose the location. At the time of its construction, the Point Loma Lighthouse had the highest elevation of any lighthouse in the United States.
As it turned out, putting a lighthouse on top of a 422-foot-high cliff was not a good idea. Fog and low clouds prevented ships from seeing the light just when they needed it most. To aid them, the guardians of the light resorted to firing a shotgun in the mist to warn the ships to move away. In the 1890s, it became clear that something should change. The lighthouse was closed and a new one was built at a lower height.
That makes Point Loma the only place in California where you can see not one but two lighthouses in the same place.
What You Can Do at Point Loma Lighthouses
The original Point Loma Lighthouse is the centerpiece of the Cabrillo National Monument. The monument honors the Portuguese explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. He was the first European to discover San Diego Bay and chart the California coastline.
On a clear day, the monument is worth visiting just for the views of San Diego and the ocean. Besides visiting the lighthouses, you can also take a hike. You can also get a better view of the new lighthouse on your way to explore the tide pools on the beach, which are best at low tide in winter.
The National Park Service has restored the interior of the original lighthouse to its 1880 appearance. Check with the visitor center for information on ranger-led conversations. The lighthouse tower is open to the public three times a year. You can find the dates on the Cabrillo National Monument website.
You’ll also find an exhibit on the two Point Loma lighthouses in the reconstructed helper’s quarters nearby. Sometimes volunteers are available to reenact the past. They act as “Captain Israel,” who was the lighthouse keeper from 1871 to 1892, or as members of the Cabrillo ship’s crew.
The Fascinating History of the Point Loma Lighthouse
The original lighthouse had a unique Cape Cod style design. Unfortunately, the planning was so poor that the 1st order Fresnel lens would not fit the tower. A smaller lens replaced it. That may have contributed to construction costs that reached more than $ 30,000 in 1855 (more than $ 800,000 in 21st century dollars), much higher than budget.
For 36 years, the lighthouse stood at the entrance to San Diego Bay, but in the end, the site was abandoned and the lighthouse moved downhill.
A new Point Loma lighthouse was built closer to the water in 1891, just 88 feet above the water. You can see it from the Whale Overlook, 100 yards south of the old lighthouse. The new light looks more like the East Coast lighthouses, especially the Coney Island Light, Plum Island Range Rear Light, La Pointe Light, and Duluth South Breakwater Inner Light, all of which were built around the same time. It is still in use, but it was automated in 1973 and converted to an LED lamp in 2013.
You can see it from the road, but it is not open for tours.
Visiting point Faros de Loma
The lighthouse is within a National Monument. You will have to pay an admission fee to visit it. The park is open most days of the year, except for the major holidays. Check the hours of operation before you drive around.
Where are the Point Loma lighthouses located?
Old Point Loma Lighthouse
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive
San Diego, CA
Cabrillo National Monument website
The Point Loma Peninsula is across the bay from downtown San Diego. Driving directions from all major San Diego freeways are available on the Cabrillo National Monument website. If you are using a GPS, use the address above.
By public transportation, you can take bus 28 or 84C from the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). They stop every hour at the Cabrillo National Monument.
More California lighthouses
If you are a lighthouse geek, you will enjoy our guide to visiting California lighthouses.
