Rancho Piedra Blanca facts for kids
Rancho Piedra Blanca was a huge piece of land, about 48,806 acres (197.5 square kilometers), given out as a land grant by the Mexican government in 1840. It was located in what is now San Luis Obispo County, California. Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado gave this land to José de Jesús Pico. The name "Piedra Blanca" means "white rock" in Spanish. This name comes from rocks that look white because so many birds live on them. The rancho stretched along the Pacific Coast, south of Big Sur, from Ragged Point down to Pico Creek. It was next to another large land grant called Rancho San Simeon. Today, this area includes the original town of San Simeon, the main offices of the Hearst Ranch, and the famous Hearst Castle.
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A Look Back: The History of Rancho Piedra Blanca
Early Days and the Pico Family
José de Jesús Pico (1806-1892) was a member of the important Pico family of California, who were well-known early Californian families of Spanish and Mexican background. He was born in Monterey in 1806. José de Jesús Pico was a soldier. In 1832, he married Francisca Zaviera Trinidad Antonia Gabriela Villavicencio.
The land that became Rancho Piedra Blanca was originally used by Mission San Miguel Arcángel for grazing animals. In 1840, this very large area, about eleven square leagues, was officially given to Pico. A "league" was a way to measure land, and eleven square leagues was a massive amount! In 1841, Pico was also put in charge of Mission San Miguel.
Becoming Part of the United States
After the Mexican–American War ended in 1848, California became part of the United States. The peace agreement, called the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, said that the U.S. government would respect the land grants given by Mexico.
To make sure everything was clear, the U.S. government created a special process to check who owned these lands. In 1852, a claim for Rancho Piedra Blanca was filed. Finally, in 1876, José de Jesús Pico officially received the land title for the rancho.
George Hearst and the Ranch's Future
José de Jesús Pico sold parts of the rancho to different people over time. Then, in 1865, a very important person named George Hearst (1820 – 1891) started buying land in the area. George Hearst had become very successful during the California Gold Rush by finding gold and silver. Later, he even became a U.S. Senator.
By 1865, about 17,000 acres (6,900 square kilometers) of the rancho had already been sold. But Hearst was able to buy about 30,000 acres (12,000 square kilometers) of Rancho Piedra Blanca directly from Pico. Hearst kept buying more land whenever it became available. He also bought most of Rancho San Simeon and part of Rancho Santa Rosa. This is how the famous Hearst Ranch began to take shape.
Places to See at Rancho Piedra Blanca
Today, you can still visit some important historical places that were once part of Rancho Piedra Blanca:
- Piedras Blancas Light Station: This is a historic lighthouse located on the coast.
- Sebastian Store: This old store in San Simeon was first opened in 1852.
- Hearst Castle: This famous castle was built by George Hearst's son, William Randolph Hearst, on land that was once part of the rancho.
