White Point Nature Center
and Preserve
1600 W Paseo Del Mar,
San Pedro, CA 90731
Established:
2009
Size:
3 acres of gardens
102 acres of preserve
Designed by:
Rick Fisher, Toyon Design
Features:
Walking Trails
Intense local history
Bomb factory buildings
Nature Center
Notable Plants:
Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana)
Coast prickly pear (Opuntia littoralis)
Giant rye (Elymus condensatus)
Ashy buckwheat (Eriogonum cinereum)
Seacliff buckwheat (Eriogonum parvifolium)
California box thorn (Lycium californicum)
Oregon grape (Berberis nervosa)
Clustered tarweed (Deinandra fasciculata)
Arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis)
Best time to visit:
Spring and early summer
Spring is when this space really shines! Purple sages, coast sunflowers and wildflowers are all in bloom and is the perfect time to walk through the preserve. Early summer brings out the buckwheats, asters and tarweeds. Even in the height of summer this is a great place to escape the heat.
For the last 5,000 years, the land, now occupied by the White Point Preserve, has been the site of human presence and activity. The demonstration gardens at the White Point Nature Center honor this history by focusing on the connection between people and the land.
The gardens cover three acres of the 102 acres of the preserve. They are divided into four sections, north, south, east and west, oriented to connect with the stages of life and seasonal cycles. The recommended route is east, south, west and then north. Each of these sections focus on different connections to the land. They describe how cattails were used as decoration for the face and back, how elderberry wood was used for flutes and whistles, which earned it the name “tree of music” and how over plants were used as food sources. The plants found here are locally native, ecologically important and culturally relevant to the Tongva.
The gardens around the Nature Center and amphitheater are more formal and maintained, while still being an accurate representation of the local coastal sage scrub and prairie. The gardens are beautiful and filled with small details. Delicate grasses surround smaller shrubs in the same space as sycamores. This scale shift and attention to detail turns each area into a vignette, almost like a diorama. The effect is magical. The garden also features a sundial that shows both the equinox and the solstice and a bioswale to capture rain water.
The gardens around the Nature Center and amphitheater are more formal and maintained, while still being an accurate representation of the local coastal sage scrub and prairie. The gardens are beautiful and filled with small details. Delicate grasses surround smaller shrubs in the same space as sycamores. This scale shift and attention to detail turns each area into a vignette, almost like a diorama. The effect is magical. The garden also features a sundial that shows both the equinox and the solstice and a bioswale to capture rain water.
“They are divided into four sections, north, south, east and west, oriented to connect with the stages of life and seasonal cycles. The recommended route is east, south, west and then north. Each of these sections focus on different connections to the land.”
The garden has a stunning group of Oregon grape, a ridiculously large giant rye and groups of coastal prickly pears that are covered in blooms when most other plants have gone summer dormant. On the north western side of the garden the path is lined with purple sages, which is stunning in spring time. In addition to the more common plants that are often found in gardens, like toyon, california sage brush and ceanothus, the gardens have some really cool less commonly seen plants. Torrey pine, wild tarragon, wooly milkweed, california box thorn, telegraph weed and Canaigre can also be found there. The inclusion of these less domesticated and perhaps more aesthetically challenging plants, is so important. They fill important roles in the ecosystem and remind us how rich and complex our world really is.
The goal of the preserve is to restore habitat for two local endangered species, the California gnatcatcher and the El Segundo Blue Butterfly. Both of these species live in the coastal sage scrub that is found on the south coast. The profusion of sea cliff buckwheats found here are host plants to the El Segundo Blue Butterfly, and provide important food for their caterpillars.
The garden becomes more wild as it moves away from the Nature Center and fades into the larger preserve. Here there are large ceanothus, buckwheats and California sage brush. In the past the preserve was used for cattle and this introduced many invasive species into the delicate coastal prairie.
The restoration of this area has been a long hard battle with mustard, and introduced grasses. Over time the grasslands have improved with planting and weeding. This beautiful habitat is accessible via the grassland trail.
The White Point Nature Center demonstration gardens are a stunning example of reclaimed land use and thoughtful, forward-thinking preservation.
The White Point area has a long and complicated past. Five Tongva archaeological sites have been found at the Preserve. The land has been long managed by the Tongva through controlled burns. In 1770 the Spanish arrived, marking the decline of the Tongva culture. The land was part of the first private land concession of 75 acres that was given to Juan Jose Dominguez for Rancho San Pedro In the 1820’s the land was part of Jose Dolores Sepulveda cattle ranch. A period of drought, flooding and other difficulties brought an end to the cattle ranch. By 1899 the land was leased to a group of Japanese fishermen to form an abalone fishery.
The enterprise grew and by 1903 the group had enough capital to invest in a canning factory. Lobster, red crab, sea urchin, sea snails and octopus were also harvested at the site. In 1915 the Tagami family began construction on The White Point Hot Springs, which took advantage of sulphur hot springs on the beach. The resort included a hotel, restaurant, rental cabins, the sulfur spring pool, a saltwater pool, bathhouse and a pier from which day fishermen could be shuttled out to a floating fishing barge. The resort was very popular and operated until the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake. The earthquake not only damaged the buildings but closed the fissure that had created the all important sulphur hot springs. This along with the economic downturn of the time resulted in the resort’s closure. The foundations of the White Point Hot Springs are still visible and there is a historic marker to provide information about this important site.
The community finally came to an end in the early 1940’s with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Quickly after the attack community leaders submitted a declaration of loyalty to the United States. This action, however, did not prevent the government from removing the Japanese people, regardless of their citizenship, from the White Point area. They were sent to and incarcerated internment camps throughout the state losing their homes, businesses and belongings. After the way very few were able to come back to the harbour area.
“The community finally came to an end in the early 1940’s with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Quickly after the attack community leaders submitted a declaration of loyalty to the United States. This action, however, did not prevent the government from removing the Japanese people, regardless of their citizenship, from the White Point area. ”
White Point became a part of the Coastal Defense System during WWII. Afterwards, during the Cold War, White Point became home to numerous Nike Missiles. The Nature Center is in one of the missile assembly buildings and the footprints of many other structures are still present in the preserve. In 1978 the land was decommissioned as a military base and the 102 acres were gifted to the City of Los Angeles for the use of a public park. Finally, in 2003, the preserve opened.
More Information
Opening Hours:
White Point Preserve: Sunrise to sunset
Nature Center:
Wednesdays 10 am – 4 pm
Saturdays and Sundays 10 am – 4 pm
White Point Nature Center
and Preserve
1600 W. Paseo Del Mar,
San Pedro, CA 90731
Established:
2009
Size:
3 acres of gardens
102 acres of preserve
Designed by:
Rick Fisher, Toyon Design
Features:
Walking Trails
Intense local history
Bomb factory buildings
Nature Center
Notable Plants:
Torrey pine
(Pinus torreyana)
Coast prickly pear
(Opuntia littoralis)
Giant rye
(Elymus condensatus)
Ashy buckwheat
(Eriogonum cinereum)
Seacliff buckwheat
(Eriogonum parvifolium)
California box thorn
(Lycium californicum)
Oregon grape
(Berberis nervosa)
Clustered tarweed
(Deinandra fasciculata)
Arroyo willow
Salix lasiolepis)
Best time to visit:
Spring and early summer
Spring is when this space really shines! Purple sages, coast sunflowers and wildflowers are all in bloom and is the perfect time to walk through the preserve. Early summer brings out the buckwheats, asters and tarweeds. Even in the height of summer this is a great place to escape the heat.
For the last 5,000 years, the land, now occupied by the White Point Preserve, has been the site of human presence and activity. The demonstration gardens at the White Point Nature Center honor this history by focusing on the connection between people and the land.
The gardens cover three acres of the 102 acres of the preserve. They are divided into four sections, north, south, east and west, oriented to connect with the stages of life and seasonal cycles. The recommended route is east, south, west and then north. Each of these sections focus on different connections to the land. They describe how cattails were used as decoration for the face and back, how elderberry wood was used for flutes and whistles, which earned it the name “tree of music” and how over plants were used as food sources. The plants found here are locally native, ecologically important and culturally relevant to the Tongva.
The gardens around the Nature Center and amphitheater are more formal and maintained, while still being an accurate representation of the local coastal sage scrub and prairie. The gardens are beautiful and filled with small details. Delicate grasses surround smaller shrubs in the same space as sycamores. This scale shift and attention to detail turns each area into a vignette, almost like a diorama. The effect is magical. The garden also features a sundial that shows both the equinox and the solstice and a bioswale to capture rain water.
The gardens around the Nature Center and amphitheater are more formal and maintained, while still being an accurate representation of the local coastal sage scrub and prairie. The gardens are beautiful and filled with small details.Delicate grasses surround smaller shrubs in the same space as sycamores. This scale shift and attention to detail turns each area into a vignette, almost like a diorama. The effect is magical. The garden also features a sundial that shows both the equinox and the solstice and a bioswale to capture rain water.
“They are divided into four sections, north, south, east and west, oriented to connect with the stages of life and seasonal cycles. The recommended route is east, south, west and then north. Each of these sections focus on different connections to the land.“
The garden has a stunning group of Oregon grape, a ridiculously large giant rye and groups of coastal prickly pears that are covered in blooms when most other plants have gone summer dormant. On the north western side of the garden the path is lined with purple sages, which is stunning in spring time. In addition to the more common plants that are often found in gardens, like toyon, california sage brush and ceanothus, the gardens have some really cool less commonly seen plants. Torrey pine, wild tarragon, wooly milkweed, california box thorn, telegraph weed and Canaigre can also be found there. The inclusion of these less domesticated and perhaps more aesthetically challenging plants, is so important. They fill important roles in the ecosystem and remind us how rich and complex our world really is.
The goal of the preserve is to restore habitat for two local endangered species, the California gnatcatcher and the El Segundo Blue Butterfly. Both of these species live in the coastal sage scrub that is found on the south coast. The profusion of sea cliff buckwheats found here are host plants to the El Segundo Blue Butterfly, and provide important food for their caterpillars.
The garden becomes more wild as it moves away from the Nature Center and fades into the larger preserve. Here there are large ceanothus, buckwheats and California sage brush. In the past the preserve was used for cattle and this introduced many invasive species into the delicate coastal prairie.
The goal of the preserve is to restore habitat for two local endangered species, the California gnatcatcher and the El Segundo Blue Butterfly. Both of these species live in the coastal sage scrub that is found on the south coast. The profusion of sea cliff buckwheats found here are host plants to the El Segundo Blue Butterfly, and provide important food for their caterpillars.
The garden becomes more wild as it moves away from the Nature Center and fades into the larger preserve. Here there are large ceanothus, buckwheats and California sage brush. In the past the preserve was used for cattle and this introduced many invasive species into the delicate coastal prairie.
The White Point area has a long and complicated past. Five Tongva archaeological sites have been found at the Preserve. The land has been long managed by the Tongva through controlled burns. In 1770 the Spanish arrived, marking the decline of the Tongva culture. The land was part of the first private land concession of 75 acres that was given to Juan Jose Dominguez for Rancho San Pedro In the 1820’s the land was part of Jose Dolores Sepulveda cattle ranch. A period of drought, flooding and other difficulties brought an end to the cattle ranch. By 1899 the land was leased to a group of Japanese fishermen to form an abalone fishery.
The enterprise grew and by 1903 the group had enough capital to invest in a canning factory. Lobster, red crab, sea urchin, sea snails and octopus were also harvested at the site. In 1915 the Tagami family began construction on The White Point Hot Springs, which took advantage of sulphur hot springs on the beach. The resort included a hotel, restaurant, rental cabins, the sulfur spring pool, a saltwater pool, bathhouse and a pier from which day fishermen could be shuttled out to a floating fishing barge. The resort was very popular and operated until the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake. The earthquake not only damaged the buildings but closed the fissure that had created the all important sulphur hot springs. This along with the economic downturn of the time resulted in the resort’s closure. The foundations of the White Point Hot Springs are still visible and there is a historic marker to provide information about this important site.
The enterprise grew and by 1903 the group had enough capital to invest in a canning factory. Lobster, red crab, sea urchin, sea snails and octopus were also harvested at the site. In 1915 the Tagami family began construction on The White Point Hot Springs, which took advantage of sulphur hot springs on the beach. The resort included a hotel, restaurant, rental cabins, the sulfur spring pool, a saltwater pool, bathhouse and a pier from which day fishermen could be shuttled out to a floating fishing barge. The resort was very popular and operated until the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake. The earthquake not only damaged the buildings but closed the fissure that had created the all important sulphur hot springs. This along with the economic downturn of the time resulted in the resort’s closure. The foundations of the White Point Hot Springs are still visible and there is a historic marker to provide information about this important site.
“The community finally came to an end in the early 1940’s with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Quickly after the attack community leaders submitted a declaration of loyalty to the United States. This action, however, did not prevent the government from removing the Japanese people, regardless of their citizenship, from the White Point area.”
White Point became a part of the Coastal Defense System during WWII. Afterwards, during the Cold War, White Point became home to numerous Nike Missiles. The Nature Center is in one of the missile assembly buildings and the footprints of many other structures are still present in the preserve. In 1978 the land was decommissioned as a military base and the 102 acres were gifted to the City of Los Angeles for the use of a public park. Finally, in 2003, the preserve opened.
More Information
Opening Hours:
White Point Preserve: Sunrise to sunset
Nature Center:
Wednesdays 10 am – 4 pm
Saturdays and Sundays 10 am – 4 pm
White Point
Nature Center
and Preserve
1600 W. Paseo Del Mar,
San Pedro, CA 90731
Established:
2009
Size:
3 acres of gardens
102 acres of preserve
Designed by:
Rick Fisher, Toyon Design
Features:
Walking Trails
Intense local history
Bomb factory buildings
Nature Center
Notable Plants:
Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana)
Coast prickly pear (Opuntia littoralis)
Giant rye (Elymus condensatus)
Ashy buckwheat (Eriogonum cinereum)
Seacliff buckwheat (Eriogonum parvifolium)
California box thorn (Lycium californicum)
Oregon grape (Berberis nervosa)
Clustered tarweed (Deinandra fasciculata)
Arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis)
Best time to visit:
Spring and early summer
Spring is when this space really shines! Purple sages, coast sunflowers and wildflowers are all in bloom and is the perfect time to walk through the preserve. Early summer brings out the buckwheats, asters and tarweeds. Even in the height of summer this is a great place to escape the heat.
For the last 5,000 years, the land, now occupied by the White Point Preserve, has been the site of human presence and activity. The demonstration gardens at the White Point Nature Center focus on the connection between people and the land.
The gardens cover three acres of the 102 acres of the preserve. They are divided into four sections, north, south, east and west, oriented to connect with the stages of life and seasonal cycles. The recommended route is east, south, west and then north. Each of these sections focus on different connections to the land. They describe how cattails were used as decoration for the face and back, how elderberry wood was used for flutes and whistles, which earned it the name “tree of music” and how over plants were used as food sources. The plants found here are locally native, ecologically important and culturally relevant to the Tongva.
The gardens around the Nature Center and amphitheater are more formal and maintained, while still being an accurate representation of the local coastal sage scrub and prairie. The gardens are beautiful and filled with small details. Delicate grasses surround smaller shrubs in the same space as sycamores. This scale shift and attention to detail turns each area into a vignette, almost like a diorama. The effect is magical. The garden also features a sundial that shows both the equinox and the solstice and a bioswale to capture rain water.
“They are divided into four sections, north, south, east and west, oriented to connect with the stages of life and seasonal cycles. The recommended route is east, south, west and then north. Each of these sections focus on different connections to the land.”
The garden has a stunning group of Oregon grape, a ridiculously large giant rye and groups of coastal prickly pears that are covered in blooms when most other plants have gone summer dormant. On the north western side of the garden the path is lined with purple sages, which is stunning in spring time. In addition to the more common plants that are often found in gardens, like toyon, california sage brush and ceanothus, the gardens have some really cool less commonly seen plants. Torrey pine, wild tarragon, wooly milkweed, california box thorn, telegraph weed and Canaigre can also be found there. The inclusion of these less domesticated and perhaps more aesthetically challenging plants, is so important. They fill important roles in the ecosystem and remind us how rich and complex our world really is.
The goal of the preserve is to restore habitat for two local endangered species, the California gnatcatcher and the El Segundo Blue Butterfly. Both of these species live in the coastal sage scrub that is found on the south coast. The profusion of sea cliff buckwheats found here are host plants to the El Segundo Blue Butterfly, and provide important food for their caterpillars.
The garden becomes more wild as it moves away from the Nature Center and fades into the larger preserve. Here there are large ceanothus, buckwheats and california sage brush. In the past the preserve was used for cattle and this introduced many invasive species into the delicate coastal prairie. The restoration of this area has been a long hard battle with mustard, and introduced grasses. Over time the grasslands have improved with planting and weeding. This beautiful habitat is accessible via the grassland trail.
The White Point Nature Center demonstration gardens are a stunning example of reclaimed land use and thoughtful, forward-thinking preservation.
The White Point area has a long and complicated past. Neglected and disturbed areas like the Nature Park site have a seed bank overrun with weeds and invasive plants. Without attention these plants quickly outcompete the native plants.
Five Tongva archaeological sites have been found at the Preserve. The land has been long managed by the Tongva through controlled burns. In 1770 the Spanish arrived, marking the decline of the Tongva culture. The land was part of the first private land concession of 75 acres that was given to Juan Jose Dominguez for Rancho San Pedro In the 1820’s the land was part of Jose Dolores Sepulveda cattle ranch. A period of drought, flooding and other difficulties brought an end to the cattle ranch. By 1899 the land was leased to a group of Japanese fishermen to form an abalone fishery.
“The community finally came to an end in the early 1940’s with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Quickly after the attack community leaders submitted a declaration of loyalty to the United States. This action, however, did not prevent the government from removing the Japanese people, regardless of their citizenship, from the White Point area. ”
The enterprise grew and by 1903 the group had enough capital to invest in a canning factory. Lobster, red crab, sea urchin, sea snails and octopus were also harvested at the site. In 1915 the Tagami family began construction on The White Point Hot Springs, which took advantage of sulphur hot springs on the beach. The resort included a hotel, restaurant, rental cabins, the sulfur spring pool, a saltwater pool, bathhouse and a pier from which day fishermen could be shuttled out to a floating fishing barge. The resort was very popular and operated until the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake. The earthquake not only damaged the buildings but closed the fissure that had created the all important sulphur hot springs. This along with the economic downturn of the time resulted in the resort’s closure. The foundations of the White Point Hot Springs are still visible and there is a historic marker to provide information about this important site.
The community finally came to an end in the early 1940’s with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Quickly after the attack community leaders submitted a declaration of loyalty to the United States. This action, however, did not prevent the government from removing the Japanese people, regardless of their citizenship, from the White Point area. They were sent to and incarcerated internment camps throughout the state losing their homes, businesses and belongings. After the way very few were able to come back to the harbour area.
White Point became a part of the Coastal Defense System during WWII. Afterwards, during the Cold War, White Point became home to numerous Nike Missiles. The Nature Center is in one of the missile assembly buildings and the footprints of many other structures are still present in the preserve. In 1978 the land was decommissioned as a military base and the 102 acres were gifted to the CIty of Los Angeles for the use of a public park. Finally, in 2003, the preserve opened.
More Information
Opening Hours:
White Point Preserve: Sunrise to sunset
Nature Center:
Wednesdays 10 am – 4 pm
Saturdays and Sundays 10 am – 4 pm