Pío Pico State Historic Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pío Pico Casa
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The adobe and grounds after the 2000–2003 restoration
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| Location | 6003 Pioneer Blvd Whittier, California |
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| NRHP reference No. | 73000408 |
| Added to NRHP | June 19, 1973 |
Pío Pico State Historic Park is a special place in Whittier, California. It's where Pío Pico, the very last Mexican Governor of Alta California (which is now California), lived his final years. This historic home is also known as the Pío Pico Adobe or El Ranchito. It's an important spot that tells us about early California history. The park is located near the San Gabriel River, and across the river is the city named after him, Pico Rivera. The park includes his old home and about three acres of land.
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The Story of Pío Pico's Home
After the Mexican–American War ended in 1848, Pío Pico started buying land. He bought a huge area of about 10,000 acres called Rancho Paso de Bartolo. In 1853, he built a home there.
His home faced challenges from nature. In 1867, a big flood damaged the house. This flood also changed the path of the San Gabriel River to where it is today. Then, in 1882, another flood almost completely destroyed the house.
After these floods, the house was rebuilt into its current look. It mixed traditional Californio (early Californian) design with newer American-style features.
Sadly, Pío Pico lost his home. In 1883, he thought he was getting a loan from an American lawyer named Bernard Cohn. But Pico could not read or write English. The papers he signed actually gave away the deed (ownership) of his property. The courts later ruled that Cohn owned the land. In 1892, Pico was forced to leave his home. He passed away two years later at his daughter's house, having lost his fortune.
Saving a Piece of History
By 1898, the City of Whittier began buying parts of the property. They wanted to build a water pumping station there.
In 1907, some people in Whittier decided to save the historic site. They were led by Harriet Williams Russell Strong. She had known Pío Pico since 1867. Strong bought the property and had it restored in 1909.
The property was given to the State of California in 1917. In 1927, it became one of California's first State Historic Parks. The State of California did more repairs in 1944.
The Adobe was badly damaged by the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, which caused it to close. While money was being raised for repairs, the 1994 Northridge earthquake caused even more damage. Finally, in 1996, voters in Los Angeles County approved a plan to use $2.5 million for the park's restoration.
Work on the building began in 2000, and the historic gardens were restored in 2002. The park officially reopened on September 20, 2003. At the reopening, there was a re-enactment of the Battle of Río San Gabriel. This battle happened nearby during the Mexican–American War.
Protecting State Parks
In January 2008, California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger suggested closing 48 California state parks. This was part of a plan to save money. Pío Pico State Historic Park was on that list. However, none of those closures happened.
Later, in 2011, Governor Jerry Brown again targeted about seventy state parks for closure, including Pío Pico State Historic Park. But the "Friends of Pio Pico" group and the City of Whittier worked together. They raised $80,000 to keep the park from closing. Thanks to their efforts, this important historical site remained open for everyone to visit.
California Historical Landmark
Pío Pico State Historic Park is recognized as California Historical Landmark Marker No. 127. A landmark marker is a special sign that tells visitors about the history of the place.
The marker at the site says:
- NO. 127 CASA DE GOVERNOR PÍO PICO - Following the Mexican War, Pío Pico, last Mexican governor, acquired 9,000-acre Rancho Paso de Bartolo and built here an adobe home that was destroyed by the floods of 1883-1884. His second adobe casa, now known as Pío Pico Mansion, represents a compromise between Mexican and American cultures. While living here the ex-Governor was active in the development of American California.
In Popular Culture
The historic park was shown on the TV show California's Golden Parks. It was featured in Episode 127 by Huell Howser.
