TheOld Santa Monica Forestry Stationis the nation's first experimental forestry station, built in 1887. The Old Santa Monica Forestry Station was designated aCalifornia Historic Landmark(No.840) on March 20, 1970.[1]Old Santa Monica Forestry Station is located atRustic Canyon in Los Angelesin theSanta Monica MountainsofSouthern CaliforniainLos Angeles County.The site is south of what is now calledSanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.In 1971 the state placed a marker near the entrance of theRustic Canyon Recreation Centerat the NW corner of Latimer and Hilltree Roads, at 601 Latimer Road, Los Angeles, CA 90402. This location is in what is now calledPacific Palisades.The hills and canyons around the Santa Monica Canyon were a land boom in the late 1880s.
| Old Santa Monica Forestry Station | |
|---|---|
 1902 Eucalyptus Tree in the Old Santa Monica Forestry Station | |
| Location | Rustic Canyon, Los Angeles |
| Coordinates | 34°02′13″N118°30′54″W/ 34.0370416666667°N 118.515008333333°W |
| Built | 1887 |
| Designated | March 20, 1970 |
| Reference no. | 840 |
  Location of Old Santa Monica Forestry Station in the Los Angeles metropolitan area | |
Abbot Kinney(1850-1920), from New Jersey, was aland developerand aconservationist.Kinney is best known for his "Venice of America"development in Los Angeles. Kinney was appointed to a three-year position as chairman of theCalifornia Board of Forestry.Kinney established the nation's first forestry station in Rustic Canyon on 6 acres (24,000 m2) of land donated by Santa Monica co-founderJohn P. Jones(also a U.S. Senator from Nevada), andArcadia Bandini de Stearns Baker.One of the station's projects was a study of the newly introducedeucalyptustrees.[2] Located one mile inland fromPacific Ocean'sSanta Monica Bay,Rustic Canyon was a good place for the new experimental forestry station. The station tested exotic trees to see if they were good for planting in California. The station started plantations, management studies, and grew plants for scientific and conservation studies. In 1893 the station turned over operation to theUniversity of California,which ran the station till 1923.
Abbot Kinney published two books from the work done at the Old Santa Monica Forestry Station: a 1895 book tiltedEucalyptus,B.R. Baumgardt & Co.,ISBN1-4086-6309-0,334 pages, 2008) and in 1900 the book titledForest and Water,The Post publishing Company. The eucalyptus groves in Rustic Canyon, the site of the Old Santa Monica Forestry Station, still stand today. A state plaque was dedicated on August 18, 1971, next to the eucalyptus groves.[3]
Marker
editMarker on the site reads:[4][5]
- 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.