| Palos Verdes History
(One has the impression of entering a paradise designed by the Spanish for the anointed of Heaven.” (Augusta Fink, author of Palos Verdes Peninsula; Time and the Terraced Land)
Panoramic 180° Ocean View
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The Palos Verdes Peninsula evolved late, even by Southern California standards. Originally an island connected to Catalina Island by an undersea mountain range, the Palos Verdes Peninsula reluctantly joined the mainland.
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Palos Verdes is surrounded on three sides by the sea. It sits on bluffs above and removed from the nearby Los Angeles Basin – with its focus to the Pacific Ocean. In fact, the Pacific Ocean was the birthright of the Native Americans who lived near Malaga Cove as long as 50,000 years ago.
The most recent Native American group, the Gabrielino Indians, lived off the wild plants and ample shellfish found along the shoreline and built canoes for offshore fishing, hunting and occasional trade with the natives on Santa Catalina Island. That life began to change when European explorers arrived.
The first explorer to arrive was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who anchored near present-day Cabrillo beach in 1952. It took another 250 years before the Peninsula was divided into Spanish ranchos, which brought an end to the traditional life of the Native Americans. During the 1880’s, most of the peninsula was ranch land and small farms. It wasn’t until the late 1890’s that the southeast corner around San Pedro began to develop as the Port of Los Angeles.
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| The New Residential Community |
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.In 1913, rancho owner Jotham Bixby, decided to sell off 16,000 acres of land to an Eastern syndicated headed by Frank Vanderlip. Mr. Vanderlip was a banker, who hired architect Myron Hunt and the Olmsted brothers, sons of the famous landscape architect, Fredrick Olmstead (who designed Central |
Park in New York City) to plan the new residential community. They set about planning an exclusive Mediterranean community with strict architectural guidelines.
Beginning in the 1920’s, 3,200 acres were developed following the original plan. This area is visible in Palos Verdes Estates and the Miraleste neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes. Gently winding roadways, green hillsides, paths, stands of eucalyptus, pepper and coral trees were established and a full 28% of the land area was dedicated to permanent space. This early planning and dedication of parklands give the City its unique rural character and have resulted in its international reputation for scenic beauty. Today the Palos Verdes Peninsula comprises of four cities: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills Estates, Rolling Hills and Rancho Palos Verdes.
In addition to the panoramic ocean views and clean air, Palos Verdes is known for its open space and gently rolling hills with uncrowded vistas. The Peninsula still feels like a retreat and has remained true to its original plan. This is especially remarkable when downtown Los Angeles is within 35 minutes, and Los Angeles International Airport, the LA Harbor, tourist attractions and major corporations are conveniently close.
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| Peacocks and the Native Inhabitants |
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Peacocks are very significant on the Peninsula. A friend of Frank Vanderlip gave him three sets of mating peacocks after he complained of the vast & quiet. The ancestors of these original sets still roam freely along with the native inhabitants: skunks, rattle snakes, red fox, opossums, raccoons, coyotes, and rabbits, to name a few. The Peninsula is also host to many native and migrating birds. |
| This unique coastal landscape harbors endangered species as well, such as the California Gnat Catcher and the Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly. And you can’t over look the remarkable whales we watch migrate along our coast every year. |
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