Cabrillo National Monument - Facilities

Cabrillo National Monument by National Parks Service

MUSEUMS

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and the Age of Exploration

Open

Open All Year 9:00 AM to 500 PM

Phone

(619) 557-5450

Location

This exhibit is located in the Visitor Center complex, next to the Auditorium.

Special Programs

Rangers present talks and demonstrations of 16th century arms and armor. Inquire at the Visitor Center for days and times.

Exhibits

At this interactive museum, life-size dioramas and multimedia displays present the story of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. A soldier and navigator in the service of Spain, Cabrillo led the first maritime-expedition to explore the coast of California in 1542.

Available Facilities

Exhibits and audio stations. Restrooms available nearby.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

Open

Open All Year 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Phone

(619) 557-5450

Location

At the top of the hill, a short walk from the Visitor Center Complex. For those physically unable to walk up the hill, inquire at the Visitor Center for a vehicle pass.

Special Programs

Rangers present talks on some days. Inquire at the Visitor Center for days and times.

Exhibits

Explore life at the Old Point Loma Lighthouse as it was in the 1880s. Inside you will discover furnishings and everyday objects used by light keepers and their families. On clear days, the grounds offer magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean, Mexico, and the harbor of San Diego. The surrounding grounds have been retored to their 1880s appearance, and a new exhibit on the Lighthouses of Point Loma has been opened in the reconstructed Assistant Keeper's Quarters, adjacent to the Lighthouse.

Available Facilities

Interpretive signs tell about life in the Lighthouse rooms. Restrooms are available nearby.

The Lighthouses of Point Loma

Open

Open All Year 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Phone

(619) 557-5450

Location

The exhibit is located in the reconstructed Assistant Keeper's Quarters, adjacent to the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. The area is a short walk up the hill from the Visitor Center Complex. For those physically unable to walk up the hill, inquire at the Visitor Center for a vehicle pass.

Exhibits

The centerpiece of this exhibit is a spectacular third order Fresnel lens, which rotates in the middle of the room. Interactive exhibits for all ages tell the story of the steadfast beacons that safely guided mariners around Point Loma and Ballast Point.

Available Facilities

Exhibits and audio stations. Restrooms available.

They Stood the Watch -- Military History Exhibit

Open

Open All Year 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Phone

(619) 557-5450

Location

Mid-way up the hill to the Lighthouse, or a short walk from the Ocean View parking lot.

Special Programs

Rangers present talks on some days. Inquire at the Visitor Center for dates and times.

Exhibits

This museum presents the story of Fort Rosecrans and San Diego Bay during World War II. The building, a former Army radio station, maintains the look and feel of the times. Interactive displays present archival motion picture footage of the big guns in operation; the exhibit includes period photographs, a 16-inch artillery shell, and more. Most importantly, it tells the story in the words of the soldiers who served here - those who stood the watch.

Available Facilities

Many coastal defense remains are visible along park trails; visit this museum first to learn and appreciate the story behind them. Restrooms available at the Lighthouse.

VISITOR CENTERS

Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center

Open

Open All Year 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Phone

(619) 557-5450

Location

Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center Complex

Special Programs

Films and ranger-led programs

Exhibits

This is a good place to get oriented, and a ranger is available to answer your questions. The view building offers spectacular views of San Diego Bay and the surrounding area. On clear days, Mexico is visible to the south. A modern interactive museum reveals the story of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and the Age of Exploration. In the Auditorium, hourly audio-visual programs present the natural and cultural history of the park. Park rangers deliver programs on most days; inquire ahead of time for a schedule of activities. Restrooms are available.

Available Facilities

Modern interactive exhibits, the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation Bookstore, auditorium, restrooms, and other amenities are available.