Arcadia is a community of about 60,000 nestled in the San Gabriel Valley outside of Los Angeles. The city and the area has its roots in Native American and Spanish heritages and in Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin. In 1875, Baldwin bought a large area of land including what is known as Arcadia for $200,000 ($25 an acre). When Lucky Baldwin first saw the land of Arcadia with its beautiful foothill landscape, lush greenery and oak trees, fertile growing land and acres full of potential, he was amazed and declared "By Gads!This is paradise." Upon buying the land, Lucky chose to make the area his home and immediately started erecting buildings and cultivating the land for farming, orchards and ranches. He also erected a race track that later became the Santa Anita race track.

Arcadia is also know as the city of the peacock. Peacock images can be seen in many places included the city fountain, signs that decorate lamp posts, images and stories can be found in the city's museums. The peacock was introduced to Arcadia by the daughter of the famous Santa Anita Rancher, E. J. "Lucky Baldwin." Since that time the peacock has settled and mutiplied in Arcadia to the dismay of many residents. You'll find them casually parading around the Arboretum including the parking lot. While they look beautiful and graceful, I'm told they are mean, often beg for food and may bite. So travel at your own risk around a peacock.

Thanks to the Arcadia web site for information.

The race track sits with a view toward the beautiful San Gabriel mountains. In addition to horse racing, there are gardens and family fun. Santa Anita race track was opened in 1934 and is the oldest race track in southern California. It sits on the site of a previous race track that was built by Lucky Baldwin in the 1800s.