Our Mission Point Cabrillo The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and oint Cabrillo Light education of the people of California by helping P Light Station to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological Station has ensured diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities State Historic Park for high-quality outdoor recreation. the safety of thousands of ships traveling the treacherous waters off Point Cabrillo. California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (707) 937-5804. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact [email protected].
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service
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Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park 13800 Point Cabrillo Drive Mendocino, CA 95460 (707) 937-5804
Northern harrier photo courtesy of Ron LeValley
© 2008 California State Parks (Rev. 2015) Printed on Recycled Paper P oint Cabrillo Light The Wreck of The Light Station Station State Historic the Frolic Out to a distance of about 14 miles, the Point Park is a living link In 1850, the Cabrillo Light Station signaled coastside to California’s history, clipper brig danger to all ships, including small “doghole” featuring a beautifully Frolic, on its schooners that sailed the Pacific waters. rehabilitated 1909 way to San Construction of the Point Cabrillo lighthouse and 11 other Francisco with a lighthouse began in 1908 and was completed structures, including three cargo of Chinese in early 1909. The Light Station complex, lightkeepers’ homes. In housewares, comprising 30.5 acres and 15 structures, was a nearby cove rest the struck a reef just managed by the U.S. Lighthouse Service. remains of the Frolic, the north of Point The Head Lightkeeper was in charge of the most important Gold Rush- Cabrillo. After Light Station, overseeing the work of the era shipwreck in California. Family of lightkeeper Albert Scott, ca.1911 securing the First Assistant (the Wickie) and the Second Located four miles north wrecked ship in Assistant (the Timer). The U.S. Coast Guard of Mendocino, the park’s 296.5 acres of what is now Frolic Cove, the captain and some (USCG) assumed command of the Point open space include an impressive variety of crew took longboats to carry word of the wreck Cabrillo Light Station in 1939 and managed wildlife and hiking trails. south to Fort Ross. In 1851, Henry Meiggs, a it until 1991. San Francisco businessman, sent Jerome Ford PARK HISTORY The Lens north in hopes of salvaging cargo. By then, Native People The third-order Fresnel (fray-nel) lens the the ship had sunk, but not before the Pomo — For thousands of years, the resource-rich had removed Chinese ginger jars, bolts of silk, most advanced example of lens technology waters and headlands around Point Cabrillo camphor, lacquered trunks, housewares, and at the time—was first lit on June 10, 1909, were the summer hunting and gathering other items. Ford found Pomo women wearing by Wilhelm Baumgartner, the first Head grounds of the Pomo people. The Pomo splendid silk shawls, but no cargo was left Lightkeeper. One of twelve in the U.S., the moved here from their inland encampments to salvage. British-built lens was manufactured by in early summer to harvest abalone, mussels, Ford told his employer about the lack of Chance Brothers and shipped around the seals and sea lions, deer, kelp, and salt. salvageable cargo, but he noted that there Horn. The lens has 90 glass prism pieces; These foods were carried to their permanent were groves of redwood and Douglas-fir in the original lens was rotated by a wind-up villages and stored for the winter. the area. A year later, Meiggs had sawmill clockworks mechanism. In the late 1850s, settlers and lumbermen equipment shipped around Cape Horn and began using the lands for grazing and erected a mill at Big River. This led to the harvesting timber for railroad ties. As the founding of Mendocino and the beginning of influx of settlers increased, the Pomo way of the timber industry in Northern California. life was forever altered. Local mills supplied wood to construct the Today Pomo descendants occupy parts of Point Cabrillo Light Station. their ancestral lands and have revived their language and traditions. Frolic Cove The oil lamp and clockworks were replaced Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association, by ACCESSIBLE FEATURES by electric lamps and motors in 1934 and agreement with California State Parks. Two parking lots near the Museum and 1935, respectively. In 1972 an automated The Point Cabrillo Restoration Project vacation rentals are reserved for cars with beacon was installed outside the lantern received the 2007 Governor’s Historic disabled placards or plates. The Visitor room; the electric lamp of the Fresnel lens Preservation Award and the California Center, Lightkeeper’s Museum, Blacksmith inside the lantern room was extinguished, Preservation Foundation’s Preservation Shop/Marine Science Aquarium, and the and the lens was shrouded. The United Design Award. first floors of the vacation rental homes and States Coast Guard and volunteers restored With 12 of its original 15 buildings, Point Lighthouse are accessible. the original Fresnel lens and reactivated it Cabrillo is one of the most complete PLEASE REMEMBER as a Federal Aid to Navigation in 1999. light stations in the U.S. Currently, four Water safety—Stay back from the water’s The beam shining through this restored of its buildings are open to visitors, and edge to avoid large rogue waves and strong lens—visible from 14 miles at sea on a clear the vacation rental buildings are open to currents that can sweep people out to sea. night—is currently provided by a 1,000-watt registered guests. • All of the park’s natural, underwater, and lamp, operational around the clock. NATURAL HISTORY cultural features are protected by state The Light Station sits on the second of five law and may not be disturbed or removed. coastal terraces that were pushed up from • Pets must be kept on a six-foot leash. the ocean floor by plate tectonics. Native • Driving off designated roads is plants have adapted to high winds, drenching not allowed. winter rains, foggy summers, and salt spray. • Bicyclists must stay on trails. Native grasses are evident today, but are • Fishing is not allowed within the park. usually covered by invasive European grasses. NEARBY STATE PARKS Seasonally, look for more than 50 species • Jug Handle State Natural Reserve Volunteer with Fresnel lens today of birds, including northern harriers, white- 15501 North Highway 1 tailed kites, osprey, black oystercatchers, Caspar 95420 (707) 937-5804 Rehabilitation and Restoration and cormorants. From the bluff • Russian Gulch State Park The California Coastal Conservancy tops, visitors may see gray, 9500 North Highway 1, Mendocino 95460 supported and funded the acquisition of the orca, or humpback whales. (707) 937-5804 property in 1991. The Conservancy provided Dolphins, seals, sea lions, grants, joined with private donations, to or a rare blue whale may This park is managed by the Point rehabilitate the Lighthouse, its lens, the also be spotted. Northern harrier Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association. Blacksmith/Carpenter Shop, and Oil House. All proceeds from visitors, California State Parks acquired the Light EVENTS AND PROGRAMS events, weddings, vacation rentals, and interpretive sales go directly to Station and surrounding property in 2002. The Light Station hosts an annual Whale maintenance and education at Festival in March, four summer Lantern Room That year, rehabilitation of the lightkeepers’ Point Cabrillo. houses and three outbuildings began. tours, and school field trips. Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association Restoration of all structures and the grounds Call (707) 937-6122 for details. P.O. Box 641, Mendocino, CA 95460 has been overseen by the nonprofit (707) 937-6122 www.pointcabrillo.org