Lucky Baldwin: The Story of an Unconventional Success

by C.B. Glasscock

Lucky Baldwin is a biography of Elias ‘Lucky’ Baldwin, flamboyant entrepreneur who made a fortune in Nevada’s Comstock Lode.  The book was written by C.B Glasscock, a journalist, who unfortunately did not use footnotes to reference his sources.  Nevertheless it is a readable story of the man, business man and bon vivant.

Lucky Baldwin came to San Francisco in 1853, not with the intention of searching for gold, but rather to supply the needs of the miners.  His fortune was amassed by a fortuitous investment in a Nevada silver mine that was part of the Comstock Lode.  He used part of his fortune to build the first luxury hotel in San Francisco and a posh resort in the Lake Tahoe area.

Homestead Museum Docents know the story of Lucky Baldwin’s involvement with the Temple and Workman bank.  F.P.F. Temple visited Baldwin in San Francisco and negotiated a loan that he hoped would save the bank.  The failure of the bank allowed Lucky Baldwin to acquire William Workman’s share of Rancho La Puente along with other land pledged as loan collateral.

The land he owned in southern California produced the food for his hotel and resort.  His greater love turned out to be for race horses.  He was a successful owner and went on to found Santa Anita racetrack.  His land also extended to what is now Los Angeles County Arboretum, site of filming for ‘Fantasy Island’, a fitting tribute for a man who found his fantasy in California.