Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo statue at Cabrillo National Monument

A statue of the explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo stands near the visitor center at Cabrillo National Monument, commemorating his 1542 expedition that is traditionally credited as the first European landing on the West Coast of what became the United States. The statue is a focal point for visitors to the monument and the Point Loma peninsula, which offers views of San Diego Bay and the Pacific. Cabrillo National Monument interprets the history, natural environment, and maritime heritage of the site.