1954 Ghost Tree Monterey Peninsula, California

Haunting and wind-swept, this vintage postcard captures the legendary Ghost Tree along the famed 17-Mile Drive on California’s Monterey Peninsula. Its bleached trunk and twisted, weather-worn limbs stand stark against the coastal sky, a silhouette so dramatic that Robert Louis Stevenson once compared such trees to “ghosts fleeing before the wind.” The image evokes the raw beauty of the Pacific shoreline, where sea spray and salt-laden gales have sculpted this iconic form over generations.

The Ghost Tree is a Monterey cypress (Hesperocyparis macrocarpa), a species native only to this small stretch of coastline near Pebble Beach and Point Lobos. Located at Pescadero Point, it has long been a celebrated landmark along the scenic drive, with crashing surf and rugged cliffs adding to its mystique.

Photographed in rich Ektachrome by Helen S. O’Brien and published by Lee Blaisdell Photo Service, this mid-century chrome postcard was published by Lee Blaisdell Photo Service and made by Dexter, a well-known printer of high-quality postcards in the mid-20th century.. This would look great framed or make an excellent addition to any collection.

Love it ♡
Get it ☆
Get Lucky 💋 Vintage