Orinda in Contra Costa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

A Lost World

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 15, 2020

1. A Lost World Marker

Inscription. The vegetation around you is quite different from that observed during the Anza Expedition of 1776. The pine forests across the reservoir and on San Pablo Ridge were not here. Oak-bay woodlands filled the ravines as they do now, but the open grassland was far richer than today.

Standing here in the spring of 1800, you would have witnessed a dazzling display of colorful wildflowers. By the 1860s they were largely replaced by Mediterranean grasses-"super-competitors" that can be managed by grazing or burning, but never eliminated.

Although much diversity has been lost, today's landscape still harbors many species. Nearby, on the thin soils of the ridge, rising south towards Vollmer Peak, native wildflowers abound in spring.

Captions:

1) This scene is artist Laura Cunningham's rendition of how the hills might have appeared during spring of 1800.

2) San Pablo Creek, now dammed, was so full of salmon that people could fish by pitchfork! Early explorers described elk herds in the thousands, and grizzly bears foraging in large groups.

Erected by East Bay Regional Park District.

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This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Environment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1776.

Location. 37° 54.336′ N, 122° 14.645′ W. Marker is in Orinda, California, in Contra Costa County. It is on Wildcat Canyon Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Orinda CA 94563, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ina Donna Coolbrith, 1841-1928 (approx. 1.2 miles away); Everett and Marie Glass House (approx. 1.3 miles away); John Hinkel Park (approx. 1.7 miles away); Berkeley Municipal Rose Garden (approx. 1.7 miles away); Mortar Rock (approx. 1.8 miles away); Indian Rock

A Lost World Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 15, 2020

2. A Lost World Marker - wide view

(approx. 1.8 miles away); The Lawrence 37-Inch Cyclotron (approx. 1.8 miles away); Rose Walk (approx. 1.8 miles away).

More about this marker. The marker is located in the northeast section of the parking area at Inspiration Point.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 239 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 21, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.