Howard-Ralston Eucalyptus Tree Rows
Also known as: El Camino Real Trees
Why it's listed
Two rows of tall eucalyptus and elm trees line El Camino Real through Burlingame and Hillsborough in San Mateo County. Landscape gardener John McLaren planted them between 1873 and 1876 for landowners George H. Howard and William C. Ralston. They were meant to shelter the road from wind and create a grand approach to the estates and to land being subdivided. The original planting once ran about four miles; the surviving stretch is 2.2 miles and holds 557 trees, 356 of them contributing. Most contributing trees are mature blue and manna gums, joined by older elms and newly planted disease-tolerant elms that follow McLaren's plan. The trees shaped Burlingame's early ordinances, including tree-protection rules and a 1930 election that barred commercial development along the highway. The rows are also recognized as a surviving example of McLaren's roadway beautification, which predates California's state highway tree planting program of 1921.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion A for the trees' link to the founding and development of Burlingame and Hillsborough, and their influence on Burlingame's early tree-protection and zoning laws. Under Criterion C, it presents them as an excellent example of McLaren's early roadway beautification work, predating the state's highway tree planting program.
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 12000127, listed March 15, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | El Camino Real, CA 82, Burlingame |
|---|---|
| County | San Mateo County |
| Listed | March 15, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000127 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1873-1930 |
| Architect / builder | McLaren, John - landscape architect |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The resource is now 2.2 miles long with 557 trees, of which 356 are contributing. Caltrans, Burlingame and Cal Fire have replanted disease-tolerant elms since 2006. |
| Acreage | 16 |
| Coordinates | 37.58420, -122.36468 (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 12000127.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q78541950
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.