Historic Palm Tree of Los Angeles - Los Angeles, California

Gary H.

This is oldest living thing in Los Angeles! “The Arcade Palm” is amazingly over 160 years old, and has been alive since Los Angeles was only a tiny pueblo town of only 2,000 people! In the late 1850s, the baby fan palm tree (Washingtonia filifera) was plucked from a desert canyon by LA Sheriff William Hammel, Sr, who planted it in his backyard on the 200 block of San Pedro St (Little Tokyo today). In 1888, it was chosen by the newly constructed Arcade Railroad Station at 5th and Central Ave (just a few blocks up from Hammel’s home) and transplanted to the station entrance, giving visitors at the terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad their first impression of Los Angeles as a place with palm trees. There are many historic photos of the tree, including photos at Hammel's home in 1873, and when it was dug up, boxed, and moved to the Arcade Station in 1888. When the station closed in 1914, the tree was relocated one last time to its final home here on Sept 5th, at the entrance to the newly christened Exposition Park (formerly Agriculture Park), in front of where the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum would be built in 1923. This actual tree was the first to instill the image of Los Angeles as the land of palm trees, and was one of the two main inspirations that led to the planting of tens of thousands of palm trees over the following decades! The other being postcards of the Palm Ave/Drive trees (originally the Longstreet Palms) close by on Adams in front of the Orthopaedic Hospital for Children. This tree here is several decades older than its average lifespan, so if you want to see the oldest living symbol of LA, visit soon while it's still here!

Gary S.

This is a historic palm tree, not the oldest, of Los Angeles. It once stood at Union Station and was apparently an amazing site to see for the passengers who just arrived from back east and elsewhere. A special effort was to move it here when Union Station expanded.

Tony

Sorry John but you are wrong...This is an indigenous tree, it's called a California Fan Palm and is the only species of palm native to southern California. They used to grow wild in the Arroyos and deserts here. Native Indians even used the fruit as a food source. They are smaller than the taller Mexican variety, but have thicker trunks. This particular tree was originally part of a grove on San Pedro St. Around the 1850's, then moved to the Southern Pacific Depot. It was there to welcome the people and let them know they've arrived...when the train depot was moved, and the area was demolished, it was then moved to its current location right in front of the Los Angeles Colliseum which was built in the early 1920's and is arguably the most famous sports Venue in America. Superbowl 1 was played there along, with two Olympics Games 1932&1984, and a World Series, to name a few... Back to the tree. Palm trees are the most iconic trees in Los Angeles, it brought alot of people out west, with its promise of good weather...and that tree was part of that promise, it's one of the first things you would see when got off the train. Sort of a beacon to The "promised land" The purple Jacaranda trees were originally used as LA's ornamental trees. I agree that Expo Park has alot to see, alot. Most people don't even realize the tree is even there. I've seen people just hanging out there without realizing it's LA' s oldest existing Palm Tree. Enjoy it now! Palms don't have a very long life cycle, relative to other trees.
Whether we like it or not Palm Trees are a special part of Los Angeles/Hollywood.
John and others, this is not a farce, but fact, this particular tree is indigenous.
You can easily verify this. Wikipedia or whatever...
I also agree that there are special trees all over LA, most are transplants. Like the giant figs and eucalyptus trees. LA is basically one big botanical garden. I also love our beautiful California Oaks. I admit it, I'm a tree lover and I also love everything to do with LA's history amazing history.

CJC 6.

It is a big palm tree..not sure how old it is..there is a plaque commemorating this tree.. personally I think there might be some older trees however that's my opinion..I love palm trees especially during a major wind events which happen from Oct thru May..these trees are amazing..

Gary D.

A tree so large and old it brought me to tears. I never wanted to leave. I got there around sunrise and stayed until it started to get dark out. I was clutching the trunk as hard as I could and my friend had to drag me away, causing all 10 of my fingertips to become raw and bloody with the pure force I was using to hang on. I ended up permanently losing 2 fingernails from my left hand in the damage and my fingerprints are unrecognizable now. It's kind of hard to type this.

But it was all worth it, this is truly an essential spiritual experience for all you palm tree lovers out there. I was drenched in my own tears, blood, sweat, and who knows what else by the end of it all. I bottled some of those fluids to sip on later when I want to be reminded of that moment. Sadly since I was flying I could only collect 100mL so I will save it for special occasions, such as marriage, divorce, and the birth of my first-born child who I will name "Expo Palm Dyers" in honor of the day my soul was healed !

Isaac D.

If you like or are excited by Los Angeles history then you should check it out. If you don't like or aren't excited by Los Angeles history then you should skip it. It is exactly as advertised. It is an old AF palm tree.

JOHN M.

Palm trees aren’t indigenous to southern california, there from the middle east. Palms were brought here when Hollywood started making movies. I don’t know what this is. But it’s B.S.!

Clayton P.

Hey John, just so you're aware there are two types of palm trees native to California. The california palm and mexican fan palm.