Point Fermin

Point Fermin Park

Located at the southern tip of San Pedro near the entrance to Los Angeles Harbor, Point Fermin Park offers great views of the ocean and Santa Catalina Island. The 37-acre park is popular for picnicking, walking and jogging, whale watching, and tide pools. Steep trails from Point Fermin Park lead down to tide pools. The Point Fermin Lighthouse stands near the center of the park.

Many visitors to Point Fermin Park comment about the sweet smell of the fig trees that are found around the grounds. Another attraction is that dogs are allowed to romp here as long as their owners are watching over them and cleaning up after them. Parking at the park is limited to a small lot, but across the street there is a larger lot in Angels Gate Park.

Nearby are Angels Gate Park and the Korean Friendship Bell.

Point Fermin Lighthouse

Erected in 1874, the Point Fermin Lighthouse stands as a beacon and landmark near the entrance to Los Angeles Harbor. The architecture, known as Stick Style, is from the early Victorian period. Gabled roofs, hard carve porch railings, and horizontal siding give it an elegant appearance. Efforts by local citizens have kept the lighthouse in good condition, including a restoration of the lantern room.

Managed by the Department of Recreation and Parks for the City of Los Angeles, the lighthouse is now open for guided tours by volunteers. Although there is no admission fee, donations are encouraged from visitors. The lighthouse is open Tuesday through Sunday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. It is closed on major holidays and may be closed for special events in the park. Guided tours are offered every hour at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 PM.
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Point Fermin Lighthouse

The Sunken City

Six acres of land between Shepard Street and the ocean once support a small community of bungalows built by local developer George Peck. In 1929 a 1,000 by 400 feet section of the development began to slip into the ocean at the rate of about a foot a day. Efforts were made to salvage as many of the houses as possible, but some were lost as the ground crumbled beneath them.

Years later in 1941 a water main broke and caused even more erosion of the area, so much so that city officials fenced off the area and declared it unsafe. Today, despite a new fence, curious individuals sneak into the area to explore the remains of a bygone era. The jumbled remains of the little community include sidewalks, streetcar tracks, sections of old road, foundations, chimneys, and man holes.

Despite its attraction, the area is unsafe. A number of falls there have resulted in serious injury and death. The Sunken City can be viewed safely from Point Fermin Park.