Point Arena

Located at latitude 38° 57' 10", longitude 123° 44' 42", Point Arena has long been a prominent point on the California coast. The earliest known European explorers of the area, Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo and Bartolomi Ferrelo of Spain, sailed the California coast from Cape Mendocino to Baja California in 1542-43. The expedition was arduous, with disease and death striking the crew. After the untimely death of Cabrillo, Ferrelo took charge of the vessel. It was in these circumstances that Ferrelo spotted a point which "was like a spur of land where the coast turned North Northwest." He named this spur "Cabo de Fortunas" (Cape of Fortune), as testament to the difficulties encountered on this journey.