The cottage was constructed in 1885-1886 for Baldwin and his third wife, Lillie Bennett, the daughter of the cottage's architect Albert A. Bennett. Upon E.J.'s death in 1909, his daughter Anita closed the cottage and disposed of all furnishings. Some of the architectural elements of the cottage, such as the stained glass windows, black walnut doors, and marble fireplace mantels were stored in the coach barn. The stored items were reinstalled in the cottage during the 1951-1953 restoration.[4]
In 1993 the "X"-pattern fencing around the Queen Anne Cottage was refurbished and repaired as part of an Eagle Scout project by Erik Wanson, a member of Boy Scout Troop 351 in San Marino, California.
Appearances in popular culture
The cottage has been used for numerous films and television shows, most famously for the opening of Fantasy Island where the character of Tattoo can be seen ringing the bell in the cottage's tower and Mr. Roarke is seen exiting from it.[5]
The cottage was featured in Visiting... with Huell Howser Episode 1018.[6]
Historic house museums
Public tours of the Cottage are available only one or two days each year.
The 1840 Hugo ReidAdobe of Mexican era Rancho Santa Anita, later Baldwin's main ranch house, is also on Baldwin Lake within the Arboretum.
NO. 367 E. J. BALDWIN'S QUEEN ANNE COTTAGE - Designed by A. A. Bennett for entertaining, the cottage was constructed by Elias Jackson ('Lucky') Baldwin in 1881. Since there was no kitchen, meals were served from the nearby adobe (built by Hugo Reid in 1839) where Baldwin actually lived. The building was restored and dedicated May 18, 1954 as part of Los Angeles State and County Arboretum.