Health & Fitness
Blog: History the Star of Centennial Celebration
San Marino puts its focus on history as it begins celebrating its centennial anniversary coming on April 25.
San Marino’s heritage is at the forefront as the community gears up to celebrate its 100th year. From a special centennial book to community events, history is already in the spotlight.
As a real estate agent, I always have a special fascination for historical influences and how they are preserved in architecture and historical sites. But historical influence goes beyond that; it has a significant role in shaping a community’s identity.
San Marino cares about its history, and that shows in the dedication organizers are putting into it. The community won’t pass the century mark with just a light-hearted flurry of fun events, but with a serious look at its historical and cultural roots.
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The town’s dedication to preserving history is apparent through the preservation of locations of historical significance. Two good examples of that are the El Molino Viejo (the Old Mill), built in 1816 and now open to the public, serving as an art gallery; and the Huntington Botanical Gardens, originally a ranch owned by Henry Huntington in 1903. Of the 207 acres that remain today, 120 are landscaped and open to visitors, according to http://www.huntington.org.
A book dedicated to the town’s history, San Marino: A Centennial History, also puts the focus on the past. It touches on the area’s agricultural beginnings, but also the early families who helped shape its heritage and even the original inhabitants before the city was formed, the Tongva, or Gabirelino, Indians. The book includes full-color photos and maps to help tell the story of San Marino.
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A number of events throughout the coming months will help mark the anniversary, which is officially April 25. Coming up on Oct. 22, Nat Read will speak about how the Pacific Electric Red Cars affected the development of Southern California. To see more of the scheduled events, visit the city’s Centennial website.
I encourage you to take this opportunity to learn more about how San Marino came to be the community it is today. It’s certainly a great place to live, work and play!
