Cover photo by Brocken Inaglory

From the 1850s to the mid-1960s, Santa Cruzans wanted their town to be a center of industry and economic activity. Promotion of business and development was paramount. The vision was to be a hub for transportation of lumber, lime, and agricultural products produced within Santa Cruz, and also for goods that came from the Central Valley.

To be a great seaport hub, Santa Cruz needed a great harbor. The problem was that Santa Cruz’s natural harbor was a fine anchorage in the summer but in the winter gales from the south made it treacherous and often damaged the wharves.

Several plans were drafted between 1850 and 1950 to create a giant breakwater and turn Santa Cruz’s natural harbor (and its famous surf spot: Steamer Lane) into perpetually calm water. Several of these plans involved breakwaters starting at or near Lighthouse Point and extending eastward into the harbor for a quarter mile or longer.

Due to its proximity to San Francisco and the huge expense of creating a large harbor, Santa Cruz never became a great port city. Although dreams lived on through the 1940s, largely by trying to bring the US Navy here, a large harbor never materialized.

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This piece is part of the West Cliff Drive Tour. Download the free app with many tours of the Santa Cruz area and beyond.