Arcadia was founded by businessman and landowner Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin, who, on first seeing the beautiful foothill landscape, lush greenery, oak trees and fertile growing land, declared, "By Gads! This is paradise." His original Queen Anne cottage is preserved within the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, once the heart of his Baldwin Ranch. Arcadia is also home to the historic Santa Anita Park racetrack, opened in 1934. The postwar boom saw Arcadia grow rapidly into a suburban residential community, becoming the residence of choice for many corporate chief executives, including those in aerospace, the horse racing industry, and finance.