Cabrillo National Monument, National monument on Point Loma peninsula, San Diego, United States.

Cabrillo National Monument is a U.S. national monument on the Point Loma peninsula in San Diego, California, encompassing over 140 acres (57 ha). It includes the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, a museum since 1891, and former coastal artillery batteries. A sandstone statue of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo by Alvaro de Bree, 14 feet (4.3 m) tall and weighing 14,000 pounds (6,400 kg), was installed in 1949 and replaced in 1988 by a limestone replica.

Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo arrived at this point on September 28, 1542, leading the first European expedition to reach the west coast of present-day United States. This landing opened a new chapter in understanding and mapping the Pacific coastline.

Each October the Cabrillo Festival Open House reenacts the 1542 landing at Ballast Point in San Diego Bay, with Kumeyaay, Portuguese and Mexican singing and dancing, period and regional food booths, a 16th-century encampment, and children's activities. A bronze plaque presented by the Portuguese ambassador in 1935 honors Cabrillo as a Portuguese navigator in Spain's service.

The main road through the park leads to several areas including the restored lighthouse and tidal pools accessible on foot from designated parking areas. Wear comfortable shoes for the walking paths and hillside trails, and check tide schedules if you want to explore the pools along the shore.

Gray whales pass by during their annual migration from December through March, and designated whale watching stations offer good views of this natural movement. This seasonal event draws many nature watchers who time their visits to see the whales traveling along the coast.