The point and city of Dana Point, California, located on the Pacific coast about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, are named for him, and a reproduction of the brig Pilgrim was sailed around Cape Horn and permanently placed on display there for the Ocean Institute.
Several schools are named in his honor:
Richard Henry Dana Elementary School (Dana Point, California), in Dana Point, California.
Richard Henry Dana Middle School, in Arcadia, California.
Dana Middle School in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego, California.
Richard Henry Dana Middle School (Hawthorne, California) [16]
Dana Middle School (San Pedro)[17]