Here is the Trinidad Bay Memorial Lighthouse overlooking Trinidad Head, Little Trinidad Head, and the Trinidad pier; this photograph was taken while facing WSW. Trinidad, Humboldt County, California, has a population of 311. Many names have been added to the memorial plaques (attached to and surrounding the lighthouse) for those lost at sea or buried at sea. Our commercial fishing fleet is very small, currently about five to ten vessels, but they really pull in the salmon and Dungeness crabs! Sport fishing is quite lucrative here, with many sport boats moored throughout the summer in the semi-protected Trinidad harbor. There is a water taxi available to take boat owners back and forth to their vessels if they do not own a dingy. Party boats are available for half-day fishing expeditions with all gear, bait, and even fish-cleaning provided to visitors. Dockside, the Seascape Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and they have hot chocolate, fresh coffee and warm pies available to take off the northcoast chill which often accompanies our marine layer fog blankets.
Almost twenty years ago, I came here on vacation, drove around on one gray, rainy day, then one year later I moved here -- and I haven't regretted it for one second!

Steps lead down to the memorial wall and the smaller, ground-level memorial made of local rocks. There are also memorial plaques directly mounted onto the sides of the lighthouse. All three locations are in the small area surrounding the lighthouse and contain plaques with the names of those buried at sea or lost at sea. New plaques and names are continually being added.

The Trinidad Bay Memorial Lighthouse overlooks Trinidad Bay in Trinidad, Humboldt County, California. This photograph was taken while facing south. From about December to late May, whales pass by here on their migratory route between Mexico (to give birth to their calves in the warmer waters) and Alaska. Many spouts can be seen as the pods of whales hug the shoreline. They often stop by Trinidad Bay for a hearty feed on the abundance of seafood we have here, staying around for an hour or two. There are benches at the lighthouse where people can sit and watch the.....BIG spout! Little spout! BIG spout! Little spout! It is simply a delightful way to spend a day in the California sunshine, reflecting on how good it is to be alive.

Directly to the north and next to the Trinidad Bay Memorial Lighthouse is this memorial wall for those buried at sea; it is constantly being added to. The small rock monument at ground level at the right side in this photograph was the original monument for those lost and buried at sea. Attached to the lighthouse are plaques with more names of those lost and buried at sea.

A plaque nearby reads, "In loving memory to those who perished at sea, they shall live forever in our hearts."