Self-Guided Tour

Palmdale Estates has a rich history just waiting for you to discover and explore. Home of the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Holy Family since 1949, Palmdale Estates has a long history reaching back to the Ohlone Indians, was once part of the old Mission San Jose Gardens, and continues to be a part of the thriving historic Mission San Jose.

 Trees: Monterey Cypress tree near the Sundial is said to be over 300 years old. There are close to 500 trees on the Palmdale property! Just a sampling include: Star Acacia, Japanese Maple, Norfolk Island Pine, Orchid Tree, Atlas Cedar, Hinoki Cypress, Ginkgo, English Holly, Jacaranda, Crape Myrtle, Glossy Privet, Sweet Gum, Southern Magnolia, Oleander, Colorado Spruce, English Laurel, Pyracantha, California Oak, Black Locust, Giant Sequoia, Coast Redwood, California Bay, California Washington Palm, Mexican Palm, Box Elder, Carob, Silk Oak, New Zealand Christmas Tree, Colorado Spruce, Victorian Box, California Sycamore, Portugal Laurel, Douglas Fir, Golden Wattle, European White Birch, English Hawthorne, Lombardy Poplar; Catalina Cherry, Japanese Plum, Prune, Persimmon and Avocado and many, many more varieties. Amazingly, some of the old palm trees are originally from the mission and date back to its inception!

1. Sundial - The short road to the Sundial was originally a racetrack road during the time of Juan Gallegos. This sundial was put in by the Starrs. Sundials are the oldest known device for the measurement of time and the most ancient of scientific instruments. It is based on the fact that the shadow of an object will move from one side of the object to the other as the sun "moves" from east to west during the day. The origin of the sundial is unknown; the oldest sundials in museums today date from 1500 B.C. Sundials are used today in gardens to accent flower beds and bushes. Sundials are beautiful and enduring and one of the most important historic factors of time.

2. Sunken Gardens - At one time this was the fourth lake. The fountain in the center is made out of lava stone. Legend has it that in the winters the small lake overflowed and flooded the Best's home. Mr. Best solved the problem by closing it off and planting trees. Out of his frustration, comes beauty: the very pretty Sunken Garden, a secluded area where beautiful weddings are now held.

3. Sacred Heart Grotto - All the grottos were built by the Starr and Best Families. The Sacred Heart Grotto depicts a humble Visitation sister of the monastery at Paray-le Monial, Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque ( b.1647, d.1690) being visited by Christ revealing the desires of His Heart and to confide the task of imparting new life to the devotion of the Sacred Heart. When He appeared, radiant with love, He asked for acts of devotion, frequent Communion, Communion on the First Friday of the month, and the observance of the Holy Hour. This was known as the "great apparition" which took place during the octave of Corpus Christi, 1675. Many Catholics still continue this devotion to the Sacred Heart in their lives today.

4. Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto - In 1858 the Blessed Mother Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous near Lourdes in France within the cave of Massabielle.Through this humble girl, Mary called sinners to conversion and enkindled within the Church a great zeal for prayer and charity, especially service to the sick and poor. This grotto is especially pertinent to the Sisters of the Holy Family, whose mission is to seek out and advocate for the poor and needy. All the concrete work was done by the Starr and Best Families.

5. Cross bridge over creek - sculptured concrete. The sycamore trees are registered with the State of California because of size and age. Amazingly, the curly leaf willow tree you see in front of you is from a slip taken from the tree at Napoleon's grave on St. Helena Island in the 1860s by John Beard!

6. Lower Lake (artificial) - The ponds were cemented so they would hold water, and in their heyday, canoes were provided for the guests of the Starrs. (Proceed across street.)

7. Heart Garden - Garden was put in by the Starrs. Rumor has it that Mr. Starr put in this very romantic garden as a gift of love to his wife.

8. Upper Lake (artificial) - Again, fountains are made out of lava stone. The fountains are fed by water from the surrounding hills. The water pressure is natural and is a gift that helps keep the grounds green and lush.

9. Cross bridge - this little bridge connects the Heart Garden and the Upper Lake. These lakes were really natural ponds that the Starr and Best Families nurtured and sculpted into "lakes."

10. Cross second bridge - When you look below, you will see a cement culvert with running water. This was an original stream that ran through the property, since time immemorial. In the 1970s the local water district wanted to eliminate this stream because it threatened the integrity of Mission Boulevard. But, because it is such an important part of the property, Matt Whitfield, a long-time friend and benefactor of the sisters, fought to have the creek preserved and reinforced.

11. Memorial Gardens - The original portion of the Gardens, the oriental basin and gravel walks were built for Mrs. Starr in the 1930s. The six sections of the Memorial Gardens are home to more than 50 memorial markers of friends and benefactors of the Sisters. There are several grottos dedicated to saints in the Gardens. St. Jude, also known as Thaddeus, was the apostle who asked the Lord at the Last Supper why he had manifested himself to his disciples and not to the whole world (John 14:22). He is known as the saint of the impossible and his feast day is October 28. St. Joseph, foster father to Jesus, is the patron saint of the Sisters of the Holy Family and of workers. He claims two feast days, March 19 and May 1. St. Anthony of Padua, a Franciscan monk and doctor was devoted to the poor. Also known as the patron saint of lost and found, his feast day is June 13.

12. Peace Pole - December 31, 1995 at 5:00 a.m. an International Prayer for Peace was held at Mission San Jose in honor of global peace and this pole was erected. Peace Poles are hand-crafted monuments erected the world over as an international symbol of peace. Their purpose is to spread the message, MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH, and act as a constant reminder for us to visualize and pray for world peace. The Peace Pole reminds us to keep peace ever present in our thoughts. There are over 200,000 peace poles in 180 countries all over the world dedicated as monuments to peace. The first Peace Pole was erected in Japan in 1955. The Peace Pole displays the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in many different languages on each of the sides.

13. Holy Family Statue - Given to the Sisters in 1966 by the Holy Family Guilds. The Guilds are composed of individuals who support the mission of the Sisters of the Holy Family. If you would like more information about the Guilds, please contact Sister Mary Helen Jathas at 510- 624-4500.

14. Wishing Well - Originally this was a septic tank! It was capped off and is now used as a garden decoration. Jack Pereira was head gardener and planted many trees and flowers on the estate. He was responsible for creating this Wishing Well from what could have been an unpleasant aspect of the property.