Centerville Beach Cross

The Centerville Beach Cross is a concrete cross standing on a hill with clear visibility from the shoreline below. The structure sits prominently on the elevated terrain and functions as a navigation point along this stretch of northern California coast.

The monument was built in 1921 by the Native Sons of the Golden West to honor those lost when the Northerner sank decades earlier. This 1860 maritime disaster became one of the defining tragic events of the region's coastal history.

The monument serves as a visible reminder of the maritime bonds that connect this coastal community and its past. Visitors often pause here to reflect on the human cost of the sea and how such events shaped local memory and identity.

You can reach this location by walking coastal trails that start from Centerville Beach, where parking is available. The hilltop site can be windswept and the weather changes quickly, so prepare for variable conditions.

A local man named Seth Kinman waded into the ocean during the shipwreck and pulled numerous people from the water to safety. His courageous action remains part of the local story and is remembered as an act of bravery by the community.

GPS coordinates: 40.56980,-124.35155

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:20