84 POINT LOBOS RESERVE 



holdiiipfs at Point Lobos to those at Pescadero Point, if the latter were 

 established as a State Park." 



Impetus was given the discussion of a park here when, in 1919, the 

 Carmel-San Simeon highway was started, and increasing travel came this 

 way. 



There grew out of the Save-the-Redwoods movement a state-wide park 

 program for California. This was developed from a meeting in San Fran- 

 cisco. January 5, 1925, at which time Point Lobos was prominently men- 

 tioned as an area which should be included in a State Park System. The 

 Save-the-Kedwoods League had several times definitely considered the 

 possibility of preserving a representative grove of Monterey cypress, as at 

 Point Lobos. 



A meeting of members of the league and other citizens was held in the 

 Palace Hotel, San Francisco, on December 9, 1926, to advance the acquisi- 

 tion of Point Lobos as a public reserve. As a result of this meeting, Duncan 

 McDuffie, on behalf of the group, later in December, engaged Frederick 

 Law Olmsted, internationally known landscape architect, to make an in- 

 vestigation and report as to the areas most worthy of preservation. The 

 report rendered on April 15, 1927, formed the basis of future plans. 



In his official report on the establishment of state parks in California 

 (the State Park Survey), published in 1928, Frederick Law Olmsted de- 

 clared the Point Lobos project to be of primary importance, terming the 

 point "the most outstanding example on the coast of California of, pic- 

 turesque rock and surf scenery in combination with unique vegetation, 

 including typical Monterey cypress." 



The method whereby Point Lobos was acquired by the State was devised 

 by Newton B. Drury, then acquisition officer for the State Division of 

 Parks, and Secretary of the Save-the-Redwoods League. It was developed 

 that, under provisions of the State Park Bond Act, in accord with pro- 

 cedure validated by the Attorney General of California, matching funds 

 were available for purchase of the Point Lobos area. These matching funds 

 from the state park bond issue, to offset a like amount from private sources, 

 were released as a result of the gift of the Prairie Creek Redwoods to the 

 State, through the instrumentality of the Save-the-Redwoods League. It 

 was pointed out that the amount expended from the State Park Bond Issue 

 on the Prairie Creek Redwoods project was less than the one-half stipulated 

 in the State Park Bond Act, so that there remained a "matching credit" 

 which could be applied to the issuance of bonds for the purchase of Point 

 Lobos. The acquisition of the Prairie Creek area was greatly aided by 

 generous gifts from Edward S. Harkness. 



On October 19, 1932, the State Park Finance Board authorized issue of 

 state park bonds for the purchase of approximately 400 acres at Point 

 Lobos. Transfer of title to the State was made on February 8, 1933. The 

 amount involved was $631,000. According to agreement with the Allan 

 family, a portion of the Cypress Headland was to be considered a gift, 

 and dedicated as a memorial to A. M. Allan, and his wife, Satie Morgan 

 Allan. 



It was recognized that the acquisition of Point Lobos as part of the 

 State Park System presented an unusual opportunity for its "preservation 

 and protection as a reserve, accessible to the public in such ways as permit 

 its enjoyment without impairing its excellence — safeguarding for all time 

 its unique inspirational, educational and scientific interest." Such was the 



