San Clemente in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Seal Rock & Cotton’s Point

Photographed by Tom Bosse, September 7, 2026

1. Seal Rock & Cotton’s Point Marker

Inscription. Seal Rock is part of a natural rock formation known as the San Mateo Rocks and is approximately one mile south of the San Clemente Pier. Seal Rock, as it is known to locals, is home to a rookery (a colony of breeding animals) of California Sea Lions, not seals as the name implies. Sea Lions are known for their intelligence, playfulness and distinctive bark. Always looking for a meal, sea lions are opportunistic feeders, spending a majority of their day searching for fish, squid, crabs, and clams.

San Mateo Point, past Seal Rock, was later renamed Cotton’s Point by locals and surfers in the 1920’s after Henry Hamilton Cotton who built his home near the cliffs edge. Cotton’s home was built in accordance with the dream of City found and master planner, Ole Hanson, for a “Spanish Village by the Sea”. Although Franklin Roosevelt visited in the 1930’s, this area was not given recognition until 1968, when then President Richard Nixon purchased Cotton’s former home. The property became known as the Western White House. Today, San Mateo (Cotton’s) Point marks one the premier surfing spots in all of Southern California.

Erected by San

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Clemente Pier Conservancy.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1968.

Location. 33° 25.133′ N, 117° 37.282′ W. Marker is in San Clemente, California, in Orange County. It can be reached from Avenida Victoria, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located on the San Clemente Pier. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 611 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente CA 92672, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Peninsular 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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: City of San Clemente Lifeguards (within shouting distance of this marker); Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens (within shouting distance

Photographed by Tom Bosse, September 7, 2026

2. Seal Rock & Cotton’s Point Marker

of this marker); San Clemente Pier (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); San Clemente Island & Catalina Island (approx. 0.2 miles away); La Cristianita (approx. ¼ mile away); San Clemente World War II Honor Roll (approx. 0.4 miles away); San Clemente (approx. ¾ mile away); Panhe: Place by the Water (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Clemente.

Also see . . . La Casa Pacifica. (Submitted on September 12, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Tom Bosse, September 7, 2026

3. Seal Rock & Cotton’s Point Marker

San Mateo Point image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, September 7, 2026

4. San Mateo Point

Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 12, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 12, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.