POINT LOMA LOOKING NORTH THROUGH THE SILVER GATE, THE ENTRANCE TO SAN DIEGO BAY ONE OF THE THREE SCENIC HARBORS OF THE WORLD. NORTH ISLAND, CORONADO AND THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IN THE DISTANCE. POINT LOMA IS A PENINSULA 7 MILES LONG WITH CLIFFS 400 FEET HIGH, THAT FORMS A NATURAL PROTECTING ARM FOR THE WEST SIDE OF SAN OF SAN DIEGO BAY. HERE IN ANCIENT TIMES THE SPANISH BUILT A SMALL FORT OF COBBLESTONE, CALLED FORT GUIJARROS (PRONOUNCED GEEHARROS). ON THIS POINT JUAN RODRIGUEZ CABRILLO FIRST SET FOOT ON CAIFORNIA SOIL IN 1542. IN 1852 THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED A MILITARY RESERVATION AND IN 1870 THE OUTER END OF THE POINT BECAME WHAT WAS KNOWN ROSECRANS. |