{"id":5752,"date":"2026-03-24T14:40:05","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T21:40:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/?p=5752"},"modified":"2026-03-24T14:44:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T21:44:33","slug":"the-history-of-the-los-angeles-ostrich-farm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/eternal-5752-the-history-of-the-los-angeles-ostrich-farm","title":{"rendered":"The History of the Los Angeles Ostrich Farm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>At the turn of the 20th century, the history of Los Angeles was defined by more than just the booming film industry or rapid urbanization. It was also shaped by unique entrepreneurial ventures that helped build the region&#8217;s image. One of the most famous was Edwin Cawston&#8217;s ostrich <a href=\"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/eternal-5334-tanaka-farms-the-history-and-modern-evolution-of-a-california-icon\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/eternal-5334-tanaka-farms-the-history-and-modern-evolution-of-a-california-icon\">farm<\/a> in South Pasadena. This venture played a vital role in boosting local tourism, driving the economy, and establishing the city&#8217;s brand. It was an ambitious project that blended agriculture, international trade, and a marketing strategy that was way ahead of its time. More at <a href=\"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\">los-angeles.name<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a5058661a4bd\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a5058661a4bd\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/eternal-5752-the-history-of-the-los-angeles-ostrich-farm\/#The_Journey_to_California\" >The Journey to California<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/eternal-5752-the-history-of-the-los-angeles-ostrich-farm\/#Building_a_Tourist_Attraction\" >Building a Tourist Attraction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/eternal-5752-the-history-of-the-los-angeles-ostrich-farm\/#Technological_Innovations\" >Technological Innovations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/eternal-5752-the-history-of-the-los-angeles-ostrich-farm\/#Impact_on_Southern_Californias_Development\" >Impact on Southern California&#8217;s Development<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Journey_to_California\"><\/span>The Journey to California<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Edwin was born near London in 1866 to a successful financier. As a young man, he traveled across the United States and spotted a lucrative opportunity in the ostrich business, driven by the Victorian fashion industry&#8217;s insatiable demand for feathers. In 1885, Cawston sailed to South Africa to buy the birds and study their breeding technology. Faced with steep export taxes, he cleverly routed his shipment through another region to dodge the hefty financial barriers. By 1886, Edwin had arrived in Los Angeles with dozens of ostriches in tow. This marked the beginning of what would become one of the most famous enterprises in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The entrepreneur first bought land in Norwalk, setting up a working production farm. His main goal was breeding the birds and harvesting their feathers for the global market. At the same time, Cawston started experimenting with how to showcase his business to the public. One of his early ventures was an exhibition <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoname.com\/en\/eternal-3879-mint-creek-organic-farm\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/chicagoname.com\/en\/eternal-3879-mint-creek-organic-farm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">farm<\/a> located near an entertainment complex in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"461\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-39.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5719\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-39.jpeg 620w, https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-39-300x223.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Building_a_Tourist_Attraction\"><\/span>Building a Tourist Attraction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the mid-1890s, Edwin pioneered a brand-new concept: a custom-built farm in South Pasadena. This site was much more than a production facility; it became a full-blown tourist attraction. The grounds were decked out with beautifully landscaped gardens, themed areas, and retail spaces. The complex featured decorative gardens, a Japanese-style tea pavilion, a souvenir shop, a feather-dyeing factory, and massive bird pens. Guests could feed the ostriches, snap photos with them, or even take a ride in an ostrich-drawn carriage. The bravest tourists tried riding the birds bareback, though this usually ended with the ostrich quickly bucking its rider. The farm became so wildly popular that it was added as an official stop on the Pacific Electric Railway. Travelers could buy special tickets that allowed them to hop off and explore the farm while commuting between Pasadena and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1902, representatives from the city&#8217;s Chamber of Commerce visited the farm to see the feather-harvesting process firsthand. A year later, the Chamber even gifted Cawston a massive, colorized photo of his ostriches. The farm was a staple in advertising campaigns, and its image was printed on postcards shipped globally. It was heavily advertised in top-tier magazines, including Harper\u2019s Weekly, Collier\u2019s, The Saturday Evening Post, Sunset Magazine, and Ladies\u2019 Home Journal. Records from 1904 show the owner spent nearly $61,000 on advertising\u2014an astronomical sum for the era. His aggressive marketing campaigns effectively turned the farm into an international tourist destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For South Pasadena, the farm became a true city symbol. It drew crowds from all over the world, while mail-order clients from Europe and across the US purchased the prized feathers. When city officials debated changing South Pasadena&#8217;s name in the early 20th century to distance themselves from neighboring Pasadena, the farmer pushed back hard. He argued that the &#8220;South Pasadena&#8221; name was already famous among his buyers in the US and Europe, and changing it could severely damage his business. The entrepreneur even threatened to pack up the farm and relocate to another city. As a result, the authorities backed down, and the name South Pasadena was preserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"624\" height=\"457\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-40.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5722\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-40.jpeg 624w, https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-40-300x220.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Technological_Innovations\"><\/span>Technological Innovations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The farm wasn&#8217;t just known for its exotic birds; it also made waves with its technical innovations. The property featured a massive solar reflector. This cone-shaped device looked a lot like a modern satellite dish and served as an early prototype for solar panels. It concentrated sunlight and used the captured energy to power the farm&#8217;s water pumps. For the late 19th century, this was a major technological breakthrough that captivated both tourists and engineers alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the dawn of the 20th century, the business was actively expanding. By 1900, the flock had grown significantly, making the farm one of the largest ostrich breeding centers in the United States. According to the British publication The Harmsworth Magazine, a single pair of ostriches on the farm could raise up to 37 chicks in a year, compared to the usual ten or fewer in the wild. By the early 1900s, the farms housed roughly 700 birds: about 500 in Norwalk and another 200 in South Pasadena. Many of them even had their own names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"837\" height=\"999\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-41.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5725\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-41.jpeg 837w, https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-41-251x300.jpeg 251w, https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-41-768x917.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-41-696x831.jpeg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 837px) 100vw, 837px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Impact_on_Southern_Californias_Development\"><\/span>Impact on Southern California&#8217;s Development<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The ostrich farm became a cornerstone of the region&#8217;s image. It was frequently highlighted in publications by trade organizations and city campaigns pitching Los Angeles as an up-and-coming hub for development. The local community viewed the farm as a symbol of progress. It helped build South Pasadena&#8217;s positive reputation and showcased the power of an innovative entrepreneurial approach. The enterprise stood as a prime example of how a private business could influence urban planning and drive tourism appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Around the turn of the century, animal rights organizations started gaining traction in the US. The farmer worked proactively to prove his business didn&#8217;t harm the ostriches. He explained that the feathers weren&#8217;t plucked, but rather carefully clipped with scissors. This method left the follicles intact, allowing the birds to regrow new plumage. During the procedure, a special hood was placed over the ostrich&#8217;s head to keep it calm. He compared the process to shearing a sheep and was quick to point out that his ostriches weren&#8217;t dying for fashion\u2014a stark contrast to the massive slaughter of other bird species for the hat industry at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1318\" height=\"943\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-42.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5728\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-42.jpeg 1318w, https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-42-300x215.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-42-768x549.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-42-696x498.jpeg 696w, https:\/\/cdn.los-angeles.name\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/image-42-1068x764.jpeg 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1318px) 100vw, 1318px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the 1900s, Cawston gradually stepped back from active operations. He traveled frequently to England and eventually began selling off his properties. In 1911, he sold his ostrich farms for roughly $1.25 million\u2014a staggering fortune back then. Afterward, the entrepreneur returned to Great Britain, listing his occupation on the 1911 census as a &#8220;retired Californian ostrich farmer.&#8221; Edwin Cawston passed away in England on June 29, 1920, from heart disease at the age of 54. His farm stayed open for a few more years, but without its charismatic founder, it lost its former magic. Changing fashion trends also played a role. In the 1920s, ostrich feathers fell out of style as a mandatory element of women&#8217;s hats, and the Great Depression wiped out whatever luxury demand was left. The farm closed its doors for good in 1935. The South Pasadena house was later torn down, and its materials were salvaged to build housing for veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Edwin&#8217;s farm remains a classic example of how out-of-the-box entrepreneurship can shape a city&#8217;s tourism infrastructure. It played a major role in developing South Pasadena, helped put the region on the global map, and became an unforgettable piece of Los Angeles&#8217; cultural identity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At the turn of the 20th century, the history of Los Angeles was defined by more than just the booming film industry or rapid urbanization. It was also shaped by unique entrepreneurial ventures that helped build the region&#8217;s image. One of the most famous was Edwin Cawston&#8217;s ostrich farm in South Pasadena. This venture played [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":455,"featured_media":5733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[334],"tags":[5485,5479,5478,5481,5483,5472,5482,5473,5474,5480,5475,5484,5476,5477],"moimportance":[30,33],"motype":[325],"moformat":[22],"class_list":{"0":"post-5752","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-engineering-solutions","8":"tag-19th-century-ostrich-fever","9":"tag-american-ostrich-farms","10":"tag-breeding-ostriches-in-the-us","11":"tag-california-ostrich-farm","12":"tag-early-20th-century-ostrich-industry","13":"tag-history-of-the-ostrich-farm","14":"tag-history-of-us-ostrich-farms","15":"tag-ostrich-farming-in-california","16":"tag-ostrich-feather-fashion","17":"tag-ostrich-feathers-for-hats","18":"tag-ostrich-feathers-in-19th-century-fashion","19":"tag-tourist-ostrich-farm","20":"tag-tourist-ostrich-farms","21":"tag-us-ostrich-industry","22":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","23":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory","24":"motype-eternal","25":"moformat-longrid-korotka"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/455"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5752"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5752\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5753,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5752\/revisions\/5753"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5752"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=5752"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=5752"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/los-angeles.name\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=5752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}