Arcadia: History, Gardens and Horse Racing

If you’re considering Arcadia as a destination and looking for a hotel, it’s worth first considering the themes that could shape your stay: local history, gardens, golf, thoroughbred racing and an annual food-focused event held in September. The museum presents history chronologically and by theme, the arboretum combines garden areas with historic highlights, and Santa Anita Park offers a guided tour as well as a food event. This lets you choose Arcadia based on the focus that suits your travel plans.

History at the Museum and Downtown

The permanent exhibition at the Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage takes visitors through a chronology of Arcadia’s history. Topics include Arcadia’s early residents, Mission San Gabriel and the owners of the Santa Anita Ranch. Complementing these, thematic history areas cover Santa Anita Park, the World War I Balloon School and the Santa Anita Japanese Assembly Center. The exhibition thus combines a chronological overview with individual historical topics.

There are also signs of local history outside the museum: several “History Lives Here” markers on the streets of downtown Arcadia provide information about historic sites. The Thoroughbred Racing Walk of Champions has a different focus. Its information panels introduce historic jockeys, horses, trainers, owners and other notable figures. The historical themes therefore span Arcadia’s past and the history of horse racing.

Gardens and Historic Highlights

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden covers 127 acres and is an arboretum, botanical garden and historic site. It is located in the hills near the San Gabriel Mountains in Arcadia, California. Garden areas include the Heritage Rose Garden, the Aquatic Gardens and an orchid collection in the Tropical Green House. The specific displays in individual areas may change.

The historic highlights also give the arboretum a distinctive dimension: they include the ornate Queen Anne Cottage and the 19th-century Santa Anita Depot. The gardens and historic buildings are presented here as distinct themes. If you’re considering Arcadia for its history and botanical diversity, the arboretum offers several clearly defined points of interest.

Golf, a Tour and a September Event

Arcadia Par 3 Golf Course is an 18-hole par-3 course measuring 1,947 yards. The course and its practice facility are lit and open for extended play late into the night. As operations may change, check the latest information before your visit.

Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia. The free guided Seabiscuit Tram Tour passes through the stable area, the official Receiving Barn and the Paddock Gardens, as well as by the original stable and Seabiscuit’s stall. Before making plans, check the schedule and whether a reservation is required; schedules and reservation requirements may change.

Taste of Arcadia is held annually in September at Santa Anita Park. The event celebrates local restaurants and the best flavors of the San Gabriel Valley. As event plans may change, check the dates before your trip. The offerings also differ in how they’re scheduled: the golf course lists the number of holes and its length, the tram tour centers on specific stops, and Taste of Arcadia takes place in September. This makes it easier to decide whether you’d rather plan your trip around golf, a guided tour or a culinary event.

Explore more destinations: Calabasas, Bellflower, Lake Hughes, Marina Del Rey, Rancho Palos Verdes, Lancaster, San Gabriel, Monrovia.

For the broader travel overview: Los Angeles.