Tidepool monitoring Cabrillo National Monument Facts: • Created on October 14, 1913 to memorialize the first European expedition to the North American West Coast, led by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo • Cabrillo National Monument comprises more than 160 acres of coastal environment • The park is located on a 400-foot peninsula near between the Pacific Ocean and the adjacent city of San Diego • Cabrillo National Monument is the highest point on Cabrillo National Monument, whose light shown at 465 feet above sea level • Old Point Loma Lighthouse, one of the first on the West Coast, is the highest point on Cabrillo National Monument, at 46 feet • Cabrillo National Monument welcomes 1,100,000 visitors per year • The park is known for its well-preserved rocky intertidal areas and its views of the adjacent landscapes and annual gray whale migrations Please contact the Cabrillo National Monument for more information at (619) 557-5450, or visit their website at www.nps.gov/cabr.

Cultural Resources

In 1855, 300 years after Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo's first visit, the U.S. Coastal Survey selected Point Loma for the location of its lighthouse. Since that time, scientists and researchers have discovered many significant archeological, historic, and scenic sites within Cabrillo National Monument.

Approximately 30 known archeological sites are within the national monument area boundary, and approximately 60 additional sites are present on adjacent military lands. From some of the earliest known Kumeyaay Indian sites, early Spanish colonial sites, and military sites through World War II, Cabrillo National Monument exhibits many prehistoric and historic themes associated with human interaction and development. Also present in Cabrillo National Monument are historic structures and cultural landscapes some of which are currently listed and others that may be eligible for listing on the Natural Register.

Numerous and valuable cultural resources found in Cabrillo National Monument provide opportunities for researchers who are interested in cultural resource science and preservation.

Current Research
Cultural resource research in Cabrillo National Monument has been focused on the rich history of human interaction dating back at least 1,000 years.

In 2001, the National Park Service published “Shadows of the Past” (Kelly, May) providing a complete picture of the native Kumeyaay people who made Point Loma their home. It chronicled the history of these people from subsequent Spanish Colonial exploration and presence, through Mexican statehood and U.S. military activities. This publication is an example of the vast amount of cultural research that is happening to preserve the history of the monument.

Research Opportunities
Research studies have only scratched the surface of the diversity and complexity of the cultural history in Cabrillo National Monument. Possibilities for future studies include:

You don't have to be an academic expert to contribute to the history of the peninsula and San Diego area. Individuals have donated their stories and family photos to enrich our understanding of Cabrillo National Monument, the Point Loma peninsula, and the historic people of the San Diego region that affect and influence life today.

Researchers in Cabrillo National Monument have access to an extensive geographic information system (GIS) database that includes land use, demographic, jurisdictional, political, and natural and cultural resource data.

The National Park Service looks forward to working with researchers to explore novel opportunities and facilitate future studies in Cabrillo National Monument through the CMRLC. Please contact Cabrillo National Monument for more information at (619) 557-5450 or visit their website at www.nps.gov/cabr.