Pío Pico State Historic Park is the site of "El Ranchito," also known as the Pío Pico Adobe or Pío Pico Mansion, the final home of Pío Pico

Pío Pico

Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...

, the last Governor of Alta California

Alta California

Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...

 under Mexican rule and a pivotal figure in early California history. Located in Whittier, California

Whittier, California

Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities...

, at 6003 Pioneer Blvd. near Whittier Blvd. and Interstate 605

Interstate 605

Interstate 605 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Greater Los Angeles Area of Southern California...

, it is California Historical Landmark

California Historical Landmark

California Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...

 No. 127, listed as "Casa de Governor Pío Pico". Just west of the park is the San Gabriel River

San Gabriel River (California)

The San Gabriel River flows through southern Los Angeles County, California in the United States. Its main stem is about long, while its farthest tributaries extend almost altogether...

. Across the river is the city that bears his name - Pico Rivera. The park consists of the adobe and about three acres of surrounding land.

Starting in 1848, after the Mexican-American War, Pío Pico began acquiring the 10000 acres (40.5 km²) Rancho Paso de Bartolo

Rancho Paso de Bartolo

Rancho Paso de Bartolo also called Rancho Paso de Bartolo Viejo was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given in 1835 by Governor Jose Figueroa to Juan Crispin Perez. The name refers to a San Gabriel River ford called Paso de Bartolo Viejo...

, and built a home in 1853. The home was damaged by the flooding of 1867, which set the San Gabriel River to its present course, and was nearly destroyed in 1882 by flooding. The structure was completely redone into its current form, adding American-style elements into the traditional Californio

Californio

Californio is a term used to identify a Spanish-speaking Catholic people, regardless of race, born in California before 1848...

 design. In 1892, Pio Pico was evicted from the property by Bernard Cohn, an American lawyer. When taking what he thought was a loan

Loan

A loan is a type of debt. Like all debt instruments, a loan entails the redistribution of financial assets over time, between the lender and the borrower....

 from Cohn in 1883, Pico, who could not read or write English, had conveyed the deed

Deed

A deed is any legal instrument in writing which passes, or affirms or confirms something which passes, an interest, right, or property and that is signed, attested, delivered, and in some jurisdictions sealed...

 for the property, and courts ruled with Cohn. Pico died a pauper two years later at his daughter's home.

By 1898 the City of Whittier began buying up parts of the property to construct a water pumping facility. In 1907, local Whittier citizens, led by Harriet Williams Russell Strong

Harriet Williams Russell Strong

Harriet Williams Russell Strong was an American social activist, inventor, Conservationist, and leading figure of the early woman's movement...

, were able to have the site made a historic monument. Strong, who had known Pico since 1867, purchased the property and had it restored in 1909. The property was conveyed to the State of California in 1917 and designated one of its first State Historic Parks in 1927. The State of California did further renovations in 1944. The Adobe was seriously damaged in the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, forcing it to close. While funds were being raised for restoration, the situation was further complicated by additional damage caused by the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Finally, in 1996 a Los Angeles County Proposition

Referendum

A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...

 was passed that earmarked $2.5 million for the restoration of the Park. As a result, restoration of the structure began in 2000 and the historic landscape in 2002, with the park finally re-opening on September 20, 2003.

At the re-opening ceremonies, the Battle of Rio San Gabriel

Battle of Rio San Gabriel

The Battle of Rio San Gabriel fought on January 8, 1847 was a decisive action of the California campaign of the Mexican-American War and occurred at a ford of the San Gabriel River, at what are today parts of the cities of Whittier, Pico Rivera and Montebello, about ten miles south-east of downtown...

, which occurred nearby during the Mexican-American War, was re-enacted.

Proposed for closure

Pio Pico State Historic Park was one of the 48 California state parks proposed for closure in January 2008 by California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....

 as part of a deficit reduction program.. None of the proposed closures occurred at that time, but the park is again on a list of seventy state parks proposed for closure in 2011 by Governor Jerry Brown

Jerry Brown

Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...

.

External links

• Pio Pico State Historic Park official website.
• About the Pio Pico State Historic Park, California State Parks.