Claremont in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Larkin Park

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 28, 2025

1. Larkin Park Marker

Inscription. This park was named after Rev. Ralph Larkin, a retired minister and missionary to Turkey who spent his final years here on Berkeley Avenue at Pilgrim Place. His father had been an astronomer at the Mt. Lowe Observatory and Rev. Larkin taught hundreds of Claremont boys and girls about the stars and planets at informal weekend classes. The park's proximity to El Roble Junior High School and Pilgrim Place made it a natural site for Larkin to be remembered. The site was purchased in 1956 but awaited full development until a 1963 park bond raised the funds for the tot lot, athletic field, bowling green and parking lots.

In 1958 Larkin's admirers raised the funds for the unusual sundial, called a gnomen. Joslyn Senior Center was added to the site in 1985. Plaque placed by Ellen and Marshall Taylor

Erected by Ellen and Marshall Taylor.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1956.

Location. 34° 5.957′ N, 117° 43.736′ W. Marker is in Claremont, California, in Los Angeles County. It is on North Mountain Avenue north of Harrison Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 660 N Mountain Ave, Claremont CA 91711, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse 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.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mallows Park (approx. half a mile away); Memorial Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Claremont’s First Fire Station (approx. 0.7 miles away); Claremont City Hall (approx. ¾ mile away); Shelton Park (approx. ¾ mile away); The Claremont Depot (approx. 0.8 miles away); Judy C. Wright (approx. 0.8 miles away); Helen Goodwin Renwick (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Claremont.

Also see . . .
1. Larkin Park. Claremont Courier video segment on the park by Matt Weinberger. (Courier Aerial Imagery, uploaded Sept. 12, 2019) (Submitted on November 8, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. What’s in a name? Stories behind our parks and buildings. Once called a modern-day Ben Franklin, the Reverend Ralph Larkin had been a minister, missionary, astronomer, teacher, lecturer and author. (Kathryn Dunn, Claremont Courier, May 1, 2014) (Submitted on November 8, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 28, 2025

2. Larkin Park Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 41 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 6, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.