The Trinidad Museum has entered into a partnership with the Bureau of Land Management to foster appreciation and conservation of the rocks and islands off the Trinidad Coast.

In 2000, the California Coastal National Monument was established by presidential proclamation to protect the geological and biological treasure represented by the more than 20,000 rocks, islands, reefs and pinnacles extending out to 12 nautical miles along the California coastline.

These features provide essential habitat for many marine plants and animals, as well as critical resting and breeding grounds for thousands of birds.

Trinidad, with its highly accessible and scenic coast, has been proposed as a “gateway community” to the national monument.

Ned Simmons, president of the Trinidad Museum, is working with Bob Wick, planning and environmental coordinator for the Bureau of Land Management, to develop a “gateway” for the Trinidad portion of the monument and implement initiatives for the interpretation and preservation of this resource.

Trinidad Harbor is one of few deep, sheltered harbors on the coast of California and people have utilized it for thousands of years.

For the past several hundred years, it was home to Yurok people, who understood its resources intimately. They knew and named hundreds of individual rocks, such as “Pewetol,” “Tepona” and “Osurg.”

Beginning in 1775, this safe harbor offered early access to European immigrants. They came ashore to replenish water and food supplies, and to repair their ships.

Over the next 200 years, the harbor was dynamited and exploited for many enterprises: sea otter trapping, whaling, timber export, fishing, guano mining and so on.

Now these islands and rocks off the coast are protected geologic features, providing protected habitat for coastal creatures.

Sunday, from 2-4 p.m., an event sponsored by the Trinidad Museum and the Bureau of Land Management will look at the geologic origins of the many seastacks and rocks, and look at the life forms they support.

Emily Evans, BLM interpretive specialist, will give a short PowerPoint presentation in Town Hall, followed by an easy one-mile walk around Trinidad Head. There will be time for looking and asking questions. All ages are welcome. For more information, phone 707-677-0716.