Walton Lighthouse, Santa Cruz, California, USA Jan. 22, 2024

Step to the western edge of the United States, where Walton Lighthouse, also known as the Santa Cruz Breakwater Lighthouse, serves as a guiding beacon for passing ships. Built in 2002 in Santa Cruz, California, this 12-metre-tall modern maritime structure replaced a more modest lighthouse. The Walton Lighthouse got its name from Charles Walton, a businessman who generously contributed towards its construction costs in memory of his brother Derek Walton, a merchant seaman who tragically lost his life at sea during World War II.

© Jeff Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion

palette

Today in History

Hop into Lunar New Year
Jan. 22, 2025Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan
Jan. 22, 2026Karlovy Vary, Bohemia, Czechia

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jun 7, 2026Ruins of Dunseverick Castle, Northern Ireland
Spring is coming
Nov. 11, 2024Banff National Park, Alberta
Small but mighty
Dec. 17, 2025Eurasian red squirrel in Northumberland, England
Where the rainbow ends
Oct. 28, 2024Pumpkin field, Victoria, British Columbia
Aug. 2, 2025Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States
What the heck is a distaff?
Dec. 4, 2023Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
One on land, a million in space
World’s largest tulip festival
May 13, 2026Arch and Milky Way, Alabama Hills, Sierra Nevada, California, USA
Dare to tread through the fairy flower?
Nov. 2, 2024American bison
Aug. 20, 2023International Lighthouse Weekend
Feb. 28, 2026Oloupena Falls, island of Molokai, Hawaii, United States
Giddy family fun
Apr. 29, 2024Fujian Tulou, China
Commemorating Indigenous Peoples
Mar. 9, 2025Daylight saving time begins
A snapshot of Spring
Dec. 14, 2023Boreal owl
Sep. 5, 2025Pacific Park, Santa Monica State Beach, California, United States
Reflecting its stylish past today
Oct. 13, 2024Royal Alcázar of Seville, Spain
Babbling on and on
Is it green with envy?
Aug. 22, 2023Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia
Jul. 16, 2025Temple of Philae, Aswan, Egypt