Whalers Cabin
Why it's listed
Whalers Cabin is a one-story, wood-framed building of about 40 by 19 feet on a bench above Whalers Cove in Point Lobos State Reserve, south of Carmel. Its walls are board-and-batten redwood, and it has a saltbox roof covered in shingles. Built around 1850, it was first about 12 feet wide and was widened by seven feet, with four small rooms added by 1879. The cabin has been linked to Portuguese whalers, but researchers believe Chinese fishermen who settled the cove in the early 1850s built and used it. Its recycled materials, multi-paned windows and construction resemble known Chinese villages at Point Alones and Pescadero. A 1986 excavation under the floor recovered Chinese artifacts and whale vertebrae supporting the joists. World War II servicemen later left graffiti inside. Listed for its potential to yield historical and archaeological information, the site is now a museum, with surrounding deposits from the former fishing village.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the cabin and its surroundings are likely to yield information important to early Chinese and Portuguese history in the Monterey Bay region. It may be the only surviving Chinese fisherman's dwelling in the area, and its construction resembles documented Chinese fishing villages of the 1850s. Archaeological finds, including Chinese artifacts under the floor, support this, though the evidence on Portuguese whaler versus Chinese fisherman occupation is described as conflicting.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 07000406, listed May 9, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Pt. Lobos State Reserve, 4 mi. S of Carmel, Carmel |
|---|---|
| County | Monterey County |
| Listed | May 9, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000406 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | ca. 1850-1933 |
| Architectural style | Other - Cabin |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a museum (cultural and historic); the detached 1948 garage holds interpretive displays. Stabilized with a concrete foundation in 1986 and the west wall replaced in 1993. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.51867, -121.93454 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 07000406.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14684259
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.