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Historic Carpinteria

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Historic Carpinteria

A few miles south of the tourist destination of Santa Barbara is a lesser known jewel, Carpinteria. Carpinteria is proud of its history.

The Wardholme Torry Pine Tree at 5160 Carpinteria Avenue is City Landmark #1. While not native to Carpinteria, this tree, planted by Judge Ward, is generally considered to be the largest Torrey pine in existence. In the Ice age, Torrey pines covered much of the coatal areas of Southern California, but now they naturally occur on the coast near La Jolla and on Santa Rosa Island in the Santa Barbara Channel. This tree was collected on Santa Rosa Island as a seedling in 1888 and planted at Wardholme (Ward Home). In 1988, this tree measured 128 feet tall, far taller than the normal 40 to 60 feet. The crown measured 121 feet and the truck had a circumference at four feet above the ground.

Tobey House (a.k.a. West House), now a gift shop, was built in 1880 on the Russell Ranch by G. E. Thurmond. H. J. Laughlin moved the house to the present location after the loss of his White Sulphur Wells Hotel on the same site to fire in 1894. Mrs. N. R. West bought the entire block in 1903 and sold half for the construction of the Palms Hotel, which is now a restaurant. May West Tobey inherited the house from her mother. The house is located at the west corner of 8th and Linden Ave.

The Palms and Hotel, at 7th and Linden was built in 1912 and named for the palm trees that had been growing at the site for more than a decade and were then quite tall. Natural artesian well on the property supplied water to the second floor.

The Palms (trees) along Linden Avenue are native California desert fan palms (Washington filifera) and in 1977 were designated City Landmark #3.

Carpenteria hosts an annual Avocado Festival in October.

More Text

Wardholme Torry Pine Tree Photo Gallery

Wardholme Torry Pine Tree. Photo Date: 9-11-04.


Wardholme Torry Pine Tree. Photo Date: 9-11-04.

Tobey House Photo Gallery

Tobey House. Photo Date: 9-11-04.

The Palms Photo Gallery

The Palms & Hotel. Photo Date: 9-11-04.

Historical Library Site

Photo Date: 10-8-11.

Santa Barbara County Main Page

This page last updated: Saturday, 26-Nov-2011 08:17:31 EST

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