The Los Angeles State and County Arboretum plans to open its 3 acre rain forest exhibit in July featuring several hundred plant specimens from around the world.
Suzanne Gilstrap, who was paralyzed for life when a 20-foot-long tree limb fell on her at the Los Angeles County Arboretum on July 25, 1977, has won a $1,625,000 settlement from the County. Miss Gilstrap, now 16, has appeared as a paraplegic in a recent television movie, "Skyward," with Bette Davis.
Photo and text of an L.A. Times newspaper article titled "Historic Santa Anita Tract Deed Delivered to County," describing the transfer of deed for 111-acre tract from Rancho Santa Anita, Inc. to the Los Angeles County Supervisors. The article states that the property will be converted into an arboretum.
Man is riding bicycle on a path inside Rancho Santa Anita Park and Lake (later, the Arboretum), with many palm trees. Sign reads "Open to the Public Daily until 7PM, private property" and "Curves, drive slowly through park." The following information is from Sandy Snider: This is indeed, today’s Arboretum, but at the time the property was owned by a real estate syndicate named Rancho Santa Anita Inc. The enterprise was headed by the Chandler family (Harry until he died), and they bought the land from Anita Baldwin in 1936 for purposes of residential development. About 1939 they opened “the park” to visitors in hopes of encouraging land sales. About 30 acres surrounding the lake was sort of set aside as Santa Anita Park and Lake, that was roughly the area made available for movie location rentals and clearly for bicyclists, etc. 1939 is the circa date for this photograph, but it could have been anytime between 1936 and 1947 (when the land was sold to State and County for use as an Arboretum). The granite boulders lining roadways were typical Baldwin Ranch landscape features, and the pillars seen in the photo are also from Baldwin times. In the background you can see more boulders in a circular sort of shape – likely the old Baldwin Lily Pond.
Six men are seen standing in a group. L-R:Los Angeles County Supervisor John Anson Ford, Superintendent William A. Smith, Superintendent Raymond V. Darby (Chairman), F. Wesley Davies (Manager Rancho Santa Anita, Inc.), and Superintendent Leonard J. Roach. Davies is seen handing deed to 111-acre tract of historic Rancho Santa Anita to Superintendent Darby. This was to be developed into the Arboretum.
The south lake of the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum has dropped from three acres in surface area to about two acres. In 1958, the center depth was nine feet. Now it is two feet.
Photographic reproduction of full two-page spread appearing in the February 28, 1938 issue of Life Magazine. Photo shows men on horses with swords, appearing to be fighting a battle. Caption indicates it was taken during filming of the movie OF HUMAN HEARTS. Information found with the original indicates that the filming took place at the Arboretum.
County Supervisors approved a 20-year contract Tuesday establishing a joint partnership with the nonprofit California Arboretum Foundation, to operate the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum in Arcadia.
Francis Ching, 60, a native Hawaiian, is retiring after 20 years as supervisor of the Los Angeles County Dept. of Arboreta and Botanic Gardens, which includes the LA County Arboretum in Arcadia.
Actor Johnny Sheffield is seen in costume for filming at the Arboretum. He is looking up and holding onto a tree limb with his left hand. Photo probably taken during filming of a Tarzan movie.
