About 200 years ago, a palm tree was planted in downtown Los Angeles.
The fan palm was originally from the Southern California desert, a newcomer to the city like so many who would arrive later. And like so many who settled here, this young migrant prospered while adapting to the changing times.
It grew up as humble landscaping for a home on San Pedro Street in what's now Little Tokyo, while Los Angeles transitioned from Spanish to Mexican to American rule. Its quick growth and ample top earned it fame as the dusty pueblo turned into a boomtown.
