THE SERRA PALM OF SAN DIEGO IN THE ARCHIVES OF THE MUSEUM OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

The Serra Palm - from a letter sent to Orpha Klinker April 28, 1939 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2010.

This 1939 photograph of the Serra Palm was in a letter file that once belonged to the great California artist Orpha Klinker. The great old palm tree was at the foot of Presidio Hill in San Diego was planted by the first Spanish colonists in California in 1769. It was at the place believed where Gaspar de Portola and Father Junipera Serra began their exploits in our state.
We are in hope that some curious person will investigate the Serra Palm's role in the Chicago World's Fair.
Seedling from the Serra Palm eventually were carried throughout California.