PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – On May 28, 2024, the City of Long Beach Community Development Department held a special dedication for a century-old California pepper tree located in the Artcraft Manor Neighborhood. The morning event, which included a ceremonial plaque unveiling for the knotty but still stately tree, took place along the East Stearns Street parkway adjacent the south side of Stearns Champions Park.

"Recognizing this historic, majestic tree is a way to honor our environmental heritage," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "This tree took root so many decades ago and still stands strong and proud for our community to admire now and for hopefully many more years to come.”

Known in botanical terms as Schinus molle, the evergreen 30-foot tree is estimated to be at least 100 years old, a fact noted in the small plaque that will be permanently and safely attached to the tree’s trunk. Pepper trees, first introduced to California in the 1830s by Spanish missionaries, have a direct local history with the Long Beach community and the prominent Bixby family, who are known to have planted many of the trees. The recommendation to dedicate the tree was initiated by Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw, whose district is where the tree is planted.

“This tree has been an enduring icon for this neighborhood, and this dedication is meaningful to many in the immediate and surrounding communities," said Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw. “Not only will this effort help to preserve the tree for years to come, but the community now knows the historical significance of this wonderful Fourth District asset.”

The history of the tree is associated with the Artcraft Manor Neighborhood and is at the site that was previously a Long Beach Water Company pumping facility. The surrounding residential tract of over 350 single-family residences along the south side of East Stearns Street, across from the pepper tree, was constructed in 1942 and named "Artcraft Manor.”

More information about the tree can be found on the Department’s webpage. To learn about the City’s preservation programs, including historic designations and landmarks, the community can visit the Department’s historic website.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. For more information about the Community Development Department, visit longbeach.gov/lbcd and like on Facebook page and follow on X and Instagram.