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

Walton Lighthouse, Santa Cruz, California, USA

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:

Apr. 16, 2024Union Square, Manhattan, New York, USA
Leaf-peeping Southern style
Sep. 24, 2025Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming, United States
The lungs of Earth
Aug. 16, 2024Canadian National Exhibition 2024
Sep. 19, 2024International Talk Like a Pirate Day
The top of Tennessee
A postcard-perfect landscape
Apr. 1, 2026Japanese tree frog in a pink morning glory
When ice imitates art
Jun 14, 2026Mallard duck
Sep. 25, 2023Sea Otter Awareness Week
Apr. 9, 2025Naxos, Cyclades, Greece
Sep. 15, 2023Glenariff Forest Park, County Antrim, Ireland
Jan. 29, 2026Milwaukee City Hall, Wisconsin, United States
When landscape met wilderness
Sep. 30, 2025Koala in the Great Otway National Park, Australia
Jun. 9, 2024Bardenas Reales Biosphere Reserve and Natural Park, Navarra, Spain
Jan. 6, 2025Flooded crypt, Basilica of San Francesco, Ravenna, Italy
A warm hug in the icy north
Dec. 29, 2024Borobudur temple, Java, Indonesia
Nov. 27, 2024Tombeau du Géant in Bouillon, Belgium
Do pandas enjoy winter?
Nov. 10, 2023Badlands National Park anniversary
Jun 26, 2026The River Thames, London, England
Sep. 11, 2024Red fox mother kissing her baby
Jun. 25, 2024Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Feb. 1, 2025Rolands Breach, Spain
Oct. 24, 2023Füzér Castle in the Zemplén Mountains, Hungary
Jun. 10, 2024The city of Osaka at night, Japan