Ardenwood Historic Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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George Washington Patterson Ranch--Ardenwood
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Patterson House during a Civil War demonstration (2003)
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 Ardenwood Historic Farm
Location in San Francisco Bay Area
Ardenwood Historic Farm
Location in California
Ardenwood Historic Farm
Location in the United States
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| Location | 34600 Newark Blvd. Fremont, California |
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| Architect | George Washington Patterson, James Hawley |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003043 |
| Added to NRHP | November 29, 1985 |
Ardenwood Historic Farm is a special historical place in Fremont, California. It's like a living museum managed by the East Bay Regional Park District. At Ardenwood, you can explore Ardenwood Station, an old Ohlone village site, a blacksmith shop, and see farm animals. The main house is called Patterson House. Today, it's still a working farm, growing crops like grain and vegetables.
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Discovering Ardenwood's Past
Ardenwood Historic Farm first opened its doors to the public on July 28, 1985. The whole park includes a working farm, a big forest, and a large house. This house is now known as the Patterson House. The original owner, George W. Patterson, named his estate "Ardenwood." He got the name from a forest in England that appears in Shakespeare's play, As You Like It.
The Patterson House Story
George W. Patterson was born in Pennsylvania in 1822. He came to California in 1849 during the California Gold Rush. After not finding much gold, he moved to Alameda County in 1851.
The Patterson House was first built in 1857. George Washington Patterson and his neighbor, James Hawley, built it as a simple farm house. The original house was made of redwood. Parts of this first house are now the dining room, kitchen, and some bedrooms upstairs.
The house was made bigger two times. Around the 1880s, a new part was added in the Queen Anne style. This was designed by a famous architect named Samuel Newsom. This addition doubled the size of the house. Later, around 1910, Patterson's son Henry and his wife added more rooms. They also put in new indoor plumbing.
A painting of a woman was found in the attic of the Patterson House. People think it might be of a Patterson family member named May Morgan. The artist might have been John Koch.
Ardenwood Station and Trains
A fun part of the park is the Railroad Museum at Ardenwood. It has a special narrow gauge railway. This railway is a copy of an old local train line called the South Pacific Coast Railroad.
The museum has many old narrow gauge railroad cars. It also shows other items from 19th-century railroading. The Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources helps run this museum.
The Working Farm
The land around Ardenwood has been used for farming since the 1850s. At first, the Ardenwood Farm area was used for grazing animals and making dairy products. Over time, it started growing more wheat and vegetables. When George W. Patterson passed away in 1895, his ranch was huge, about 3,000 acres. It was one of the biggest in the area.
Even in the 1960s and 1970s, the land south of the farm was used for growing crops. It was mostly used for hay, which is dried grass for animals. Sometimes, cauliflower was also grown there.
Fun Events and Holidays
Ardenwood Historic Farm hosts many exciting events throughout the year. These include a Celtic festival and an Independence Day celebration. They also have the Washington Township Railroad Fair on Labor Day.
In September, you might find a Renaissance Faire. During October, there's The Harvest Festival, an annual Rail Fair, and a big pumpkin patch. The farm also holds Zydeco concerts and many Halloween celebrations. These often include a haunted railroad ride!
Image gallery
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Stained glass and beveled glass inside the house.
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The railway.
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Patterson House (2012)
See also
In Spanish: Granja Histórica Ardenwood para niños
