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| Landmark #1046 | Los Angeles County | Visited: Sept. 23, 2012 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | The Savannah Memorial Park Pioneer Cemetery! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Established in 1851, on the spot where Henry Dalton’s land grant showed “The American Graveyard,” Savannah was the first public burial site used by sttlers who came to the San Gabriel Valley by wagon train. Many of these pioneers were instrumental in developing the educational, social, and legal foundations of Southern California. Their family names are commemorated in the names of streets, buildings, and parks throughout the area. These pioneers formed the foundation of the American presence in El Monte, Rosemead, and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley.
OTHER TIDBITS: Henry “Don Enrique” Dalton was a British merchant who owned Rancho Azusa and planted the San Gabriel Valley’s first avocados! He imported 9,000 grape vines from Europe, and honeybees from Italy to make honey! This graveyard arose after Don Dalton discovered two graves under a cactus hedge on his Rancho San Francisquito property! Though War of 1812 veterans and pioneers are buried here, many of the residents of these graves remain a mystery! That’s because it wasn’t until 1905 that the state of California started actively keeping track of who was buried where! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: 9263 Valley Blvd. Rosemead, CA 91770 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~12mi (20km) — 0.2hrs |
| When should I go? | No official hours are posted, but I suggest going between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM! |
We went to visit our Grandmother only to have the gates locked and the place looks terrible. This is tragic where is the city money going. I don’t know but we plan to find out.
Hi Don! Oh no! That sounds very upsetting! I hope you find some answers. If you do, let me know!