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| Landmark #646 | Los Angeles County | Visited: November 13, 2011 | Plaque? NO. 🙁 |
| What is it? | There’s nothing left of Greek George’s grave, only Founders Memorial Park in Whittier! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: This is the grave of “Greek George,” a camel driver from Asia Minor who came to the United States with the second load of camels purchased by the War Department as an experiment to open a wagon road to Fort Tejón from Fort Defiance, New Mexico. Because of the Civil War, the experiment was abandoned. “Greek George” became a naturalized citizen in 1867 under the name of George Allen. He built an adobe home on Santa Monica Boulevard.
OTHER TIDBITS: In 1856, Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis, hired on a group of 8 camel herders and their camels (the Camel Corps) to help transport supplies across the “Great American Desert!” These camels were highly important for carrying the supplies necessary to construct the Butterfield Overland Mail Route! Yiorgos Caralamo, or “Greek George” was one of the special herdsmen brought over from Smyrna, Turkey to tend the camels. While George and his fellows were well equipped to deal with the camels, the Westerners hated them, and by 1863, they’d largely been turned loose into the Arizona desert, though unfortunately, none survived past 1893. |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Founders’ Memorial Park Broadway at Gregory Ave Whittier, CA 90601 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~17mi (28km) — 0.3hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |
The historical marker for Greek George is currently on display at the Whittier Museum in the Military Hall Civil War section. The Museum is located at 6755 Newlin Ave. Whittier, CA 90601. The Museum is open to the public on Fridays & Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
September 17, 2016
Oh! That’s good to know! I’ll have to swing by there one of these weekends!
In 1977 all headstones were permanently removed, the cemetery was covered with fill dirt and transformed into a public park.
Yasso , the info you have bout Greek George is quite unique in a true fashion of history of the immigrant in American and the connections to the Camels of the govt experiment. Are there any documents govt or other wise that may exist? The uniqueness of this only happens once I a life time. Are there any decedents that still live near LA or any one that may have story. I am also a descendant of a Mexican Union & Confed soldier Who worked with the camels and have many questions. Thanks Gil
Hi Gil! Wow! Super cool that you’re descended from this era. I think your best bet will be to contact either the Whittier Historical Society or the Drum Barracks Museum Civil War Museum. They have all sorts of information about the Camel Corps and I’ll bet they can point you in the right direction!