Searchlight Cellar - San Diego, CA
Posted by: 
bluesnote
N 32° 40.228 W 117° 14.302
11S E 477650 N 3614780
A cellar which held a movable searchlight to illuminate suspicious boats entering San Diego Harbor. It was in use during WWI and WWII, but never was used for its intended purpose as no enemy ships were ever seen near the San Diego Harbor.
Waymark Code: WM16NRB
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 09/05/2022
Views: 10
Located along the Bayside Trail within Cabrillo National Monument. The cellar doors are still built in the side of the hill, but they no longer contain the searchlight. During WWI and WWII the searchlight was meant to be moved to the corner of the trail about 50 feet to the east of the plaque.
The plaque says, "Soldiers carefully guarded this harbor during World Wars I (1917-1918) and II (1914-1945). As part of the night patrol, two or three soldiers operated a searchlight hidden behind this door. The five-foot diameter light was 8000 million candlepower-bright enough to blind someone. It was visible at up to 35 miles.
If a suspicious boat approached, the soldiers would quickly roll the searchlight on track out to the edge of the bluff. There they would plug it into an electrical socket. By turning and tipping the massing searchlight, they could illuminate a moving target. This would help patrol boats to attack an enemy ship on even the darkest nights."
Type of Historic Site: Structure
Address of Building, Object, or Site:
Bayside Trail, Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego, CA, USA
Website: [Web Link]
Admission Prices: 15.00 (listed in local currency)
One a Scale from 1-5, How Vital was the Site in WWI?: 
Posted Coordinates Location:
Historical Marker and Structure
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Visit Instructions:
Take at least one, clear photo of the site or object. This must be a personally obtained photo and not taken from the internet. You must also describe your experience. Any differences since the waymark was approved? Was the museum closed? Was the object moved? Has it deteriorated more? Give details!