#307 Queen Anne Cottage

The Queen Anne Cottage is the crown jewel of the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden. The Cottage was built in 1885 using the Queen Anne Victorian Architectural Style by Elias Jackson 'Lucky' Baldwin. Lucky was a very fortunate California pioneer, investor and real estate tycoon. He moved to San Francisco in 1853 during the Gold Rush and decided the real money was not in gold itself but in food, supplies and lodging for gold diggers.

Lucky used his fortune to purchase a tract of land outside of Los Angeles he divided into lots in the 1880's for the towns of Arcadia and Monrovia. He was considered one of the first equal employers hiring African-American, Native American, Mexican and Chinese workers when most were jobless: though, he paid them considerably less. Lucky built this cottage for entertaining purposes only and can be enjoyed today with a visit to the Arboretum.

 

#37 The Arboretum

The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is one of the most beautiful gardens. Located in Arcadia in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, this 127 acre garden is a feast of color and botanical heaven. The historical property resides on Native American land and the site of former Rancho Santa Anita. From South American gardens to the Madagascar Spiny Forest and the Tropical Orchid House, the gardens are constantly changing with the seasons making each visit one to remember.