Old Santa Monica Forestry Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Santa Monica Forestry Station |
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1902 Eucalyptus Tree in the Old Santa Monica Forestry Station
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| Location | Rustic Canyon, Los Angeles |
| Built | 1887 |
| Designated | March 20, 1970 |
| Reference no. | 840 |
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The Old Santa Monica Forestry Station was the very first experimental forestry station in the United States. It was built in 1887. This special place was named a California Historic Landmark (No. 840) on March 20, 1970.
You can find the Old Santa Monica Forestry Station in Rustic Canyon in Los Angeles. It's located within the Santa Monica Mountains in Southern California. The area is south of what is now known as the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. In 1971, a special marker was placed near the entrance of the Rustic Canyon Recreation Center. This spot is in Pacific Palisades.
Contents
What is a Forestry Station?
A forestry station is like a science lab for trees and forests. Experts here study different kinds of trees. They learn how to plant them and how to help them grow. They also find out which trees are best for different areas. This helps protect forests and natural spaces.
How the Station Started
The Old Santa Monica Forestry Station was created by a man named Abbot Kinney (1850-1920). He was a land developer and also a conservationist. This means he built new areas but also cared about protecting nature. Kinney is famous for creating the "Venice of America" in Los Angeles.
Kinney was chosen to lead the California Board of Forestry. He decided to set up the first forestry station in Rustic Canyon. The land was given by John P. Jones, who helped start Santa Monica, and Arcadia Bandini de Stearns Baker. The station covered about 6 acres of land.
Studying New Trees
One of the main goals of the station was to study new types of trees. They wanted to see if these trees would grow well in California. A big project was looking at eucalyptus trees, which were new to the area.
Rustic Canyon was a great spot for this new station. It was only a mile from the Pacific Ocean's Santa Monica Bay. The station tested many different trees. They created tree farms and studied how to manage them. They also grew plants for science and conservation.
Station's History and Legacy
The Board of Forestry ran the station until 1893. Then, the University of California took over. The university continued to operate the station until 1923.
Abbot Kinney wrote two books based on the work done at the Old Santa Monica Forestry Station. One book, called Eucalyptus, was published in 1895. The other, Forest and Water, came out in 1900.
Today, the eucalyptus trees planted in Rustic Canyon still stand. They are a living reminder of the Old Santa Monica Forestry Station. A state plaque was placed there on August 18, 1971, right next to these historic groves.
Marker Information
A special marker at the site tells its story:
- In 1887, the State Board of Forestry established the nation's first experimental forestry station. Located in Rustic Canyon, the station tested exotic trees for planting in California, established plantations for management studies, and produced planting stock for scientific and conservation purposes. The station was operated by the Board of Forestry until 1893 and by the University of California until 1923.
