Nestled in the heart of the Monsignor Gerald M. O’Keefe Rose Garden, a historic bronze figure stands, staring resolutely westward, casting a golden radiance over Arcadia. This impressive statue is none other than 'A Dawn in the West', a 2013 masterpiece by renowned artist Alfred Paredes, showcasing Elias J. 'Lucky' Baldwin, a California rancher, businessman, and the city's first mayor. But there's more to this charismatic character than meets the eye.
Born in Ohio in 1858, Lucky Baldwin made his way to San Francisco in 1880, a city teeming with gold and real estate development. He saw his chance and ran with it, acquiring over 57,000 acres of land, transforming farmland and expansive ranches all the way to Los Angeles County. This move catapulted him to fame, and he reveled in the limelight. He reigned as a king, not upon a white steed, but by conquering races with his extraordinary horses. In 1888, his horses snatched a quarter of the San Francisco Jockey Club's prize money in a single year. And if that wasn’t enough, he was appointed as the first president of the Pacific Stock Exchange.
Lucky's story didn't end there. In 1876, he moved to Arcadia and claimed one of the city's first plots. Although he left us in 1909, his name and legacy continue to resonate in the city. The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden protect the Hugo Reid Adobe, his former residence, and the statue stands proudly nearby, serving as a reminder of a time filled with adventure, riches, and ambition.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Friendly Jane
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