History of the Gardens

Introduction

The Gardens at Palmdale have been occupied by humans for thousands of years, starting with the Ohlone people. In 1797, the Spanish arrived in the area. Padres and native laborers planted the first non-native flora and constructed small adobe workshops. After battling neglect during California's Mexican period (1821 - 1848), the ownership of these gardens passed through many hands, ranging from Gold Rush settlers to Central American aristocrats, and even tractor company executives.

As you enjoy the beautiful scenery of these peaceful gardens, think of the many previous owners, explorers, and natives who walked these same paths.

Much like the garden's variety of plants, trees, and other horticulture specimens, the history of the Gardens at Palmdale is a fusion of different cultures, practices, and ways of life.

Explore the Garden's Historical Signage

The Gardens at Palmdale have 5 historical signs scattered throughout the area. Of these five signs, four focus on particular attractions (Avenida Palmdale, the Sacred Garden, the Monterey Cypress, and the Starr & Best Houses) that are found within the gardens. The other sign is a timeline sign that covers the general history of the gardens. You can enjoy a digital viewing of these signs below.

Note: Tapping/clicking on the image of the timeline will redirect you to Google Drive, where you can view the timeline more closely.

Map Depicting Signage Location

The red "X" denotes the timeline sign's location, while the blue "X" marks the locations of the remaining attraction signs.

Interesting Facts and Dates

1849

Elias L. Beard purchases the disputed title of Mission San José, which includes Palmdale.

In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln returned Mission San José back to the Catholic Church, effectively splitting Palmdale from the Mission grounds.

Beard is responsible for many of the basic landscape features still seen today at Palmdale. A map of Mission San José that includes Beard's property and residence in 1868 is shown above.

1881

Juan Gallegos, the son of Costa Rica's 2nd President, purchases Palmdale and the surrounding lands.

Gallegos established his namesake wine company, which was the largest in California in terms of volume and square footage. The company's construction team, led by Mariano Vallejo's grandson, worked on many brick storage houses (depicted above). Today, at the intersection of Washington Blvd and Osgood Rd, the ruins of these buildings can be seen.

1889

Charles Howard Shinn (a California horticulturist, forest ranger, and college roommate of future President Woodrow Wilson) writes that Palmdale is a rare example of a fusion between Spanish landscaping combined with early 19th-century American gardening.

Shinn also writes of a Curly Leaf Willow (no longer exists) named "Napoleon's Willow" in the gardens. This tree presided over Napoleon's grave on St. Helena Island (depicted above) and spent time at Mount Vernon before it arrived at Palmdale.

Additional Photos

Thank you for taking the time to explore the history of the Gardens at Palmdale.

Eagle Scout Project - Aman R. Shah - Troop 152 - Fall 2025