Whalers Cabin

Whalers Cabin is a wooden structure in Point Lobos State Reserve sitting on a coastal ledge above Whaler's Cove with original features from its 1850s origins. The cabin now serves as a museum where visitors learn about the maritime history of the area.

Chinese fishermen built this cabin in the 1850s, and it later became a base for Portuguese whalers operating from 1862 to 1879. This period shaped the site and its role in coastal fishing activity.

The building displays maritime objects, fishing tools, and photographs showing the diverse communities who lived and worked at Point Lobos. Visitors can see how different groups left their mark on this coastal place.

You can walk through the cabin when volunteer guides are present to show you the exhibits and explain what you are seeing. Timing your visit during regular reserve hours helps ensure a guide is available to share the stories.

This site was one of about sixteen shore stations built along the California coast for whaling in the 1800s. Few of these locations still stand today, making it a rare window into how this coastal industry once operated.

Location: Carmel-by-the-Sea

GPS coordinates: 36.51860,-121.93400

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:44