San Simeon in San Luis Obispo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Catching a Whale

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Photographed by Jason Voigt, March 25, 2026

1. Catching a Whale Marker

Inscription.
Perched on the bluff of San Simeon Point, an eager Portuguese whaler sees a migrating whale and shouts, "Whale Ho!" Men in 30-foot oar-powered boats equipped with harpoons and bomb lances set out to capture a whale. After harpooning a whale, the crew sometimes experienced a "Nantucket Sleigh Ride" and could be pulled up to 20 miles.

After returning to the station, whale in tow, the blubber was removed and flensed, and melted down in try pots. The oil processed at San Simeon was transferred into wooden barrels and shipped to San Francisco. One 45-foot gray whale could yield up to 35 barrels of oil valued up to $1200.

Erected by California State Parks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 35° 38.634′ N, 121° 11.257′ W. Marker is in San Simeon, California, in San Luis Obispo County. It can be reached from Slo San Simeon Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 750 Hearst Castle Rd, San Simeon CA 93452, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Central Coast

and specifically on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Turning Whale Blubber Into Valuable Oil (here, next to this marker); From Whaling to Whale Watching (here, next to this marker); Shore Whaling in San Simeon

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(here, next to this marker); History of San Simeon Bay (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); San Simeon Bay is a Special Place (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hearst Ranch (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sebastian Store (approx. ¼ mile away); Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Simeon.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, March 25, 2026

2. Catching a Whale Marker

Marker is in the middle of the three

Credits. This page was last revised on April 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 18, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.