Believe it or not, that palm tree that you see in this photo, as we're facing the Memorial Coliseum, is the oldest surviving palm tree in Los Angeles. As L.A. author and local historian D.J. Waldie writes, this palm has been around since at least the 1850s, and has moved around several times. It's believed to have been at Expo Park since 1914 — but even that is in question.
These days, the palm tree seems to go pretty much unnoticed, a footnote in our history. So let's bring some love to it as we kick off the 19th Annual Great Los Angeles Walk in Exposition Park on Saturday, November 23, 2024! And we'll do it in the "Christmas Tree Lane Park" right next to the BMO Stadium and facing the Coliseum — which is where USC normally plays. (Don't worry, this year's USC-UCLA matchup that day takes place at the Rose Bowl, far from where we'll be walking.)
Meet at the palm tree at 9 a.m. Nov. 23, and from there we will be making our way to UCLA, ending at the Bruin statue on campus. Stay tuned for more details on the exact route! But go ahead and start planning your transportation now... more to come!
