My husband loves lighthouses, so any time we are near one, we must visit. This is fine because I like lighthouses as well. The one thing that makes me a bit sad is I believe almost all of them are automated now, so it takes some of the romance out of it.
When we lived in San Diego, we visited the Old Point Loma Lighthouse several times with friends and family. The lighthouse is located near the Cabrillo National Monument. In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo became the first European to sit foot on the West Coast when he landed at the San Diego Bay. The monument of Cabrillo, looking out over the bay, was dedicated in 1913 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
There has been a lighthouse on Point Loma since 1855, although the lighthouses have been in different locations. The first lighthouse did not last long as after it was built, it was discovered that fog and clouds often obscured the light. The “new” lighthouse was moved 100 yards south and that is the house located there today. Captain Robert Decatur Israel was the longest light keeper and he was also the last. He extinguished the light in March 1891 and it was not re-lit until the National Park Service re-lit it in 1984 to celebrate the 130th anniversary.
Even with the lighthouse light extinguished, Point Loma was still a very important piece of land. Because it is so far above sea level (422 feet), is serves as a great area with which to protect San Diego from incoming vessels. During both World War I and World War II, the military facilities at Point Loma provided vital defense systems.
If you get a chance, visit the lighthouse. You can go in and see what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper years ago. There is also a great gift shop, you can see the monument of Cabrillo, and you will have a great view of the Pacific Ocean.