Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo (San Diego, California)

USA / California / Coronado / San Diego, California
 statue, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, historic landmark
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo led the first European expedition to explore what is now the west coast of the United States. Cabrillo departed from the port of Navidad, Mexico, on June 27, 1542. Three months later he arrived at "a very good enclosed port." That port is known today as San Diego bay. Historians believe he anchored his flagship, the San Salvador, on Point Loma's east shore near Cabrillo National Monument. Cabrillo later died during the expedition, but his crew pushed on, possibly as far north as Oregon, before thrashing winter storms forced them to back to Mexico. More information about Cabrillo and the expedition is presented below.

Cabrillo National Monument, established in 1913, commemorates Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo's voyage of discovery. A heroic statue of Cabrillo looks out over the bay that he first sailed into on September 28, 1542. A film, "In Search of Cabrillo," and an exhibit hall present Cabrillo's life and times each day at the Visitor Center. Ranger-led programs about Cabrillo are usually available on weekends and on many weekdays during summer months.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabrillo_National_Monument
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   32°40'26"N   117°14'20"W

Comments

  • Cabrilho was a Portuguese navigator. His real name in Portuguese is João Rodrigues Cabrilho.
This article was last modified 8 years ago