Point Piedras Blancas played a role in local maritime history, even before the building of the light station. Following the California gold rush of 1849 the number of ships passing along the central coast increased dramatically. By the 1860s there was frequent coastal shipping traffic and an active shore whaling station at nearby San Simeon.

 

The San Simeon Shore Whaling Station was established in 1864 by Captain Joseph Clark, who ran it until his death in 1891. His cousin continued the operation for 2 more years before selling the land to Phoebe Hearst.

 

Before the light station was built at Point Piedras Blancas, it is believed a lookout from the San Simeon Whaling Station was posted on the property during the southbound migration of the California gray whale. When a whale was sighted the lookout signaled the whalers, who hunted their prey from 30 foot long whaling boats.

 

The shore whalers played a role in two shipwrecks that occurred in 1869. The Harlech Castle struck a submerged rock 1 ½ miles north of Point Piedras Blancas on August 29, 1869. The Harlech Castle was on her way from San Francisco to Peru with a cargo of barley when she encountered a hurricane off Central America and was badly damaged. Limping back to San Francisco for repairs she hit bad weather in the Piedras Blancas area and struck a submerged rock.  Two crewmen died. Whalers from the shore whaling station rescued the survivors, taking them to San Simeon to await transport to San Francisco aboard the steamship Sierra Nevada.

 

The Sierra Nevada was a steam powered passenger/cargo ship that made regular stops along the Central Coast. On October 17, 1869, the Sierra Nevada struck a reef in heavy fog about 3 miles north of Point Piedras Blancas. The panic stricken passengers clambered into lifeboats and spent a harrowing night at sea, remaining near the wreck until morning when they were able to row to San Simeon. All 78 people on board were saved. The San Simeon shore whalers salvaged items from the Sierra Nevada and tried to sell them.

 

 

Figure 1 – Sierra Nevada
(Click for larger image)

 

Sierra Nevada, courtesy of Robert Schwemmer, NOAA Maritime Heritage Coordinator

 

A major shipwreck during WWII was the result of a Japanese attack. The Montebello was a steam-powered shelter deck tanker owned by the Union Oil Company of Southern California. On December 23, 1941 she left Port San Luis destined for Vancouver, British Columbia carrying over 3 million gallons of Santa Maria crude oil. About 6 miles off the south end of Cambria she was torpedoed by a Japanese I-21 submarine and sunk. All 38 crewmen escaped in four lifeboats. One lifeboat came ashore south of Cambria; the other three lifeboats made it to Estero Bay where they were rescued off Cayucos.

 

After the invasion of Pearl Harbor, Congress passed the War Damage Act which provided that the government would pay for losses sustained from enemy attack within the 3 mile limit. In 1946 the Montebello case went to trial. Testimony was given by Cambria citizens and by Norman Frances, the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse keeper, who witnessed the event. It was determined that the Montebello went down outside the 3 mile limit. Union Oil did not receive compensation.

 

Figure 2 – Montebello

 

Other shipwrecks have occurred over the years. The rocky shoreline remains a potentially dangerous place, especially in foggy or windy conditions.

 

 

The Piedras Blancas Light Station has an excellent collection of artifacts from the Harlech Castle and the Sierra Nevada on display, thanks to the generosity of local diver, Bob Thomas. 

 

Porthole from the Sierra Nevada

 

 

 

Pottery shards from the Harlech Castle and the Sierra Nevada

 

 

 

 

 Deadeye from Harlech Castle