See the palms that traveled to 1915 the Panama-Pacific International Exposition to create the Avenue of Palms. Learn about how the California Nursery Company was the center of growing trees and plants for all the west coast to enjoy. The tour will start at the California Nursery Company Office. We will see thirteen different palms that are growing in the park. Walk through the rose garden. Visit the Vallejo Adobe, built in the 1830’s. We will continue walking toward our own Avenue of Palms. These 20 palms are over 140 years old. John Rock started the palms in Wayne Station (now San Jose), moved them to the California Nursery in the late 1880’s. Mr. Eberly, manager of the California Nursery in 1915, oversaw the movements of these palms to San Francisco by horse, rail, and barge and then back after the Panama-Pacific International Exposition was over in December, 1915. This was an extraordinary feat, especially before San Francisco bay bridges.

Guided tours are $15.00 per person. Includes viewing of our exhibit “Niles Palms at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition”. Learn the biology of the palms and other trees that the California Nursery provided for the PPIE. All funds generated will go into the renovation of the park through efforts of the Math Science Nucleus, CalNurco and City of Fremont. You may sign up for a mailing list for future tours and events (http://www.msnucleus.org/calnursery)

Some paths are not paved. Please wear shoes appropriate for walking on uneven unpaved surfaces.

Spend a day visiting historic Niles before or after your tour:

Niles Depot Museum (http://www.nilesdepot.org/niles/home.html) – see artifacts of the trains that defined Niles and moved the large palms (donation suggested)

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum (nilesfilmmuseum.org) – see where Charlie Chaplin made films for several months in 1915 and where Broncho Billy filmed his Westerns. Visit the museum and watch a silent film with live accompaniment.

Niles.org is a guide to services and shops in Niles.

Sunset magazine featured Niles in March, this year (http://westphoria.sunset.com/2015/03/04/where-to-go-this-weekend-the-east-bay-ca/)