The name of 16th century conquistador Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo has been attached to quite a number of geographical landmarks and structures, mostly in Southern California. So I was a little confused when I first heard about the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse in Mendocino County, and of course I had to visit the site and see it for myself. On my first attempt in November 2021, I got only as far as the parking lot next to Highway 1; the Big Guy was feeling more than usually obsessed with finding a promising fishing spot that day and had no interest in the half-mile hike to the lighthouse.

This time I returned on my own. It was an extremely blustery day, and I still didn’t have all the time I would have liked to poke around and see everything there is to see.  The more I learn about the Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park the more I want to see!

View north from Mendocino Headlands

This lighthouse was built in 1908 and first illuminated in June 1909

Interior of the Lighthouse Museum/gift shop

A glimpse of the Fresnel lens, still in use

Desk and guest book in the Lighthouse Watch Room

Guest book, opened to pages from July and August 1959

Model of the brig Frolic, wrecked in 1850 off present-day Point Cabrillo

Glow of the lighthouse, seen from Caspar Headlands