The Lone Cypress, a Monterey cypress perched on a granite headland above Carmel Bay in Pebble Beach, grows in one of the species’ few natural ranges. Believed to have started growing around 1750 in the era of New Spain, it has been reshaped by centuries of Pacific wind and salt spray and has changed noticeably since its fuller form appeared in 1880s images. As erosion and exposure threatened it, protective measures included a retaining wall, support cables, and fencing. It also survived an arson attempt and storm damage. Its rarity, uncertain future, and striking silhouette made it an emblem of Pebble Beach and a widely recognized North American tree.

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