Old Whaling Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Whaling Station |
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Portuguese Bend in California
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| Location | Portuguese Bend in California |
| Built | 1869 |
| Designated | Jan. 3, 1944 |
| Reference no. | 381 |
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The Old Whaling Station at Portuguese Bend was a place in California where people used to hunt whales. It was built in 1869. This historic spot is now a California Historical Landmark, meaning it's a very important place from the past. You can find it in Portuguese Bend, which is part of Rancho Palos Verdes, California in Los Angeles County.
Contents
Hunting Whales in the Past
Long ago, people hunted whales for their oil. This oil was used for lamps, soap, and other products. The Old Whaling Station was one of these places. It was a busy spot where Gray whales were often hunted.
How Whaling Worked
At the station, workers used large kettles called "tryworks." These kettles were used to boil down whale blubber (the whale's thick layer of fat) into whale oil. Whalers would go out in small boats from the station to hunt the whales.
Captain Joseph Clark is thought to have started whaling here around 1864. Later, Captain Frank Anderson, a Portuguese whaler, was very active. From 1874 to 1877, he processed 2,166 barrels of whale oil at this station.
The Dangers of Whaling
Hunting Gray whales from small boats was very dangerous. Gray whales can be as big as 36 tonnes (about 79,000 pounds)! Many hunters were hurt or even killed during these hunts. The John Brown Whaling Company also operated here, starting in 1869.
Why Whaling Stopped
The last whale hunt at Portuguese Bend was in 1885. This was because there were not enough whales left to hunt. Too many whales had been caught. Today, Gray whales are protected. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) gave them protection from large-scale hunting in 1949.
A Harbor That Never Was
In 1887, there was a big boom in real estate in Los Angeles. People wondered if a harbor could be built at Portuguese Bend. A pioneer from Orange County, J.K. Tuffree, made plans for a harbor, a town, and even a railroad. He wanted to name the harbor "Port Carolina" after his wife. However, the real estate boom ended before he could start building.
Historical Marker
A special marker at the site tells part of its story. It reads:
- "O. 381 SITE OF OLD WHALING STATION – The whaling industry is said to have been started by Captain Clark in 1864. Captain Frank Anderson, a Portuguese, tried 2,166 barrels of whale oil at this station from 1874 to 1877. The station was abandoned because of a lack of fuel rather than vessels."
