Exploring Burlingame's Leafy Legacy

Burlingame has long boasted The City of Trees moniker. But how and when did Burlingame earn that nickname? That’s what Danica Hodge sought out to discover last May as part of her master’s thesis in museum studies.

The San Francisco State University student shared her findings with Burlingame residents Thursday night at the event Leafy Legacy: The History of Burlingame's Trees, put on by the Burlingame Historical Society.

“Through that program, I’ve been involved with the Burlingame Historical Society,” Hodge said. “Time and time again, the subject of trees just kept popping up.”

She consolidated her research into a website, which is linked to the Burlingame Historical Society’s webpage. As a Burlingame resident, Hodge aligns herself with the society’s mission and brainstormed a project that could promote Burlingame’s rich history.

“I thought…why don’t I make the museum more accessible by putting something online,” she said.

Through her months of research, Hodge discovered plenty of information to discuss both at the library event and on her website.

For instance, she said, the trademark eucalyptus trees planted along El Camino Real were original placed there as a shelter for elm trees. However, the elms died out, leaving the eucalyptus behind.

Also, she learned that most of the trees in the area were planted by John McLaren, best known for being superintendent of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, who was brought to Burlingame from Scotland by the Howard family, one of the founding families of Burlingame.

“[McLaren] was the one who really led the way,” Hodge said. “The reason they were planted was this area was essentially treeless…it created a little oasis in the Peninsula.”

Additionally, the trees brought beauty, shade, shelter from the wind and more people to the city. For these reasons, Burlingame’s townspeople quickly developed an attachment to the trees, including the Woman’s Club, which called for protection of the trees even before Burlingame was officially incorporated as a city.

Hodge said the trees continue to face obstacles. For one, many of the trees are getting old. Planted close to 100 years ago, they are getting weaker and their roots are interfering with the roadways. Additionally, high speed rail threatens to harm the trees lining the Caltrain tracks. However, Burlingame has a strong history of defending its trees.

“People have brought guns out to protect trees in Burlingame,” she said. “When you’re dealing with a row of these historic trees, people are bound to get a little hot under the collar.”

For more information on Burlingame's trees, visit http://burlingametrees.org.