Carmel Valley Road-Boronda Road Eucalyptus Tree Row
Also known as: Boronda Road Eucalyptus Trees Row
Why it's listed
Thirty-three Blue Gum eucalyptus trees line the corner of Carmel Valley Road and Boronda Road in Monterey County, California, and continue along Boronda Road to the entrance of the historic Boronda adobe. The trees, more than 130 years old, measure between 36 and 120 inches in diameter and stand on the public right-of-way in their original positions. Six grow along Carmel Valley Road, fourteen along the north side of Boronda Road and thirteen along the south side. They were planted between 1874 and 1881, when Oakland mayor Nathan Spaulding owned Los Laureles Ranch, as eucalyptus planting was becoming popular across California. Local memoirs credit the ranch manager with planting them, and an 1876 newspaper report describes a grand avenue of trees leading to the old ranch house. An 1898 photograph also shows the row. The row was recognized for its landscape value as a long-standing roadside feature. A few trees have been lost, including one removed in 2004.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the tree row is significant under Criterion C in landscape architecture as a prominent landscape feature that has existed since its planting, about 130 years. It was planted during Nathan Spaulding's ownership of Los Laureles Ranch, at the start of a statewide eucalyptus planting boom. The row leads to the historic Boronda adobe and appears in an 1876 newspaper account and an 1898 photograph.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 07001352, listed January 10, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Carmel Valley Rd. & Boronda Rd., Carmel Valley |
|---|---|
| County | Monterey County |
| Listed | January 10, 2008 |
| Reference number | 07001352 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1874-1881 |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | 33 living trees remain on the public right-of-way in their original positions, plus two stumps. One tree was removed in 2004 and another for a driveway; the extension along Carmel Valley Road has been altered. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 36.49440, -121.74723 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 07001352.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.