John Little State Natural Reserve

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Coordinates: 36°07′N 121°38′W / 36.117°N 121.633°W / 36.117; -121.633
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John Little State Natural Reserve
California Department of Parks and Recreation

John Little State Natural Reserve is a small 21-acre (8.5 ha) natural area protecting a section of steep, rugged cliffs and bluffs along the Big Sur coast of California, United States. The reserve encloses the mouth of Lime Creek and contains the 1917 cabin built by Elizabeth K. Livermore, an early conservationist.

Location

It is located 9.5 miles (15.3 km) north of Lucia and 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the Esalen Institute in Monterey County on California State Route 1. A small portion of the reserve extends across Highway 1 at the north end.[1] The park was established in 1953.[2]

Establishment

Elizabeth "Beth" King Livermore was the daughter of Horatio Putnam Livermore and Helen (née Eells), a socially prominent

Pinus torreyana) on the ridge. In 1909, Little's wife, the former Antoinette (Nettie) McWay, separated from her husband and moved to Pacific Grove, where her children could receive an education. Beth and John Little became romantically involved.[3][4]

In 1947, Beth Livermore married Matthew Schmidt, who had recently been paroled from San Quentin, where he had been imprisoned for being a getaway driver in the 1910 anarchist bombing of the Los Angeles Times building. On the evening of June 1, 1954 Livermore was fatally injured when she drove her car into Big Creek after visiting friends. Matt, who was in the car with her, unsuccessfully tried to keep her head above water.[5][6] Livermore left 25 acres (10 ha) and her cabin with instructions that it be used as a state park.[7] Livermore called the property 'Rancho Para Todos' (Ranch For Everyone).

Her wealthy nephews Putnam Livermore was her only heir. He had connections in the California State Parks System from 1950 to 1980. Putnam was a co-founder of the

San Francisco, transfer the property and turn it into a natural reserve. She instructed that the park be named her friend John Little.[7]

Access

State natural reserves are created to protect natural landscapes, including plants and animals or specific geological features. The reserve has no facilities and is not open to the public. The gated driveway to the Livermore cabin is located south of the Esalen Institute along the Big Sur Coast Highway. There are vehicle pull-outs along the highway with views of the ocean.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "John Little SNR". California State Parks. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  2. ^ "California State Park System Statistical Report: Fiscal Year 2009/10" (PDF). California State Parks. p. 24. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  3. ISBN 9780359214150
    .
  4. ^ [Salinia/Nacimiento Amalgamated Terrane, Big Sur Coast, Central California Guidebook for the Spring Field Trip. Peninsula Geological Society. May 19–21, 2000. page 21]
  5. ^ Early Photograph of the Ventana Backcountry
  6. ^ Death Certificate San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records, 1895-1985. Ancestry.com (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: 2010
  7. ^ a b Putnam Livermore's Parks
  8. ^ John Little State Natural Reserve
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