A Legacy in Granite

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In the heart of the Civic Center stands a massive granite monument dedicated in 1894 to honor the pioneers—the miners, cowboys, and sailors who settled California. But the Pioneer Monument has also been a site of evolving perspectives. For over a century, it included a sculpture called Early Days, which depicted Native Americans.

However, following controversy over that depiction, the city's Board of Appeals voted in September 2018 to remove the statue to storage. Today, the monument remains, featuring bronze figures and an allegorical figure of California on a central pedestal, but the empty space where Early Days once stood serves as a modern reminder that how we remember history often changes over time.

Updated June 2026