Grave of George Caralambo (Greek George)

He arrived as Yiorgos Caralambo of Smyrna, one of the drivers hired to come west with the army's camels, and when the experiment collapsed he stayed. He worked stock at Rancho La Brea, was naturalized in 1867 as George Allen, and in 1874 lawmen took Tiburcio Vásquez at his adobe. He died in 1913 and was buried here. The cemetery was condemned as a nuisance in 1959, the headstones came out in 1977, and fill and lawn went over the top. His stone and the 1956 Native Daughters marker sit in the Whittier Museum; the state never set one.

What the plaque says

"Greek George" Born in Smyrna as George Caralambo came to this country as a camel driver for the United States Government in 1857 Naturalized -- George Allen in 1867 Died Sept. 2, 1913 at Old Mission Historical marker erected by Whittier Parlor No. 298 Native Daughters of the Golden West Courtesy of F. G. Simmons and R. D. White June 30, 1956

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Mission San Gabriel Arcangel — 8.3 mi
  The fourth Alta California mission, built on Tongva land with Tongva labor, rebuilt after arson and now telling that story straight.
• Chavez Ravine — 13 mi
  Three Mexican American neighborhoods cleared for public housing that was never built, then traded to a ballclub.
• Colorado Street Bridge — 13 mi
  Beaux-Arts concrete arches curving 150 feet above the Arroyo Seco, opened in 1913 and later a link in Route 66.
• Domínguez Rancho Adobe — 13 mi
  The first Spanish land grant in California contained the whole harbor, and in 1846 fifty Californio lancers turned back three hundred Marines on it.

More markers nearby

• Reform School for Juvenile Offenders (Fred C. Nelles School) — 0.7 mi
• Paradox Hybrid Walnut Tree — 0.9 mi
• Casa de Governor Pío Pico — 1.5 mi
• Site of Mission Vieja — 3.4 mi