<p>Pío Pico is one of California's most important and fascinating historical figures. Born a poor soldier’s son in a frontier Spanish mission, he gained wealth and status as a businessman, cattle rancher, and politician during Mexican Era California - serving twice as governor. At the height of his power, he owned over 500,000 acres of land, including 5 large ranches. Today, what remains of his vast holdings is his adobe house located on a few acres of land that were once part of his 9,000-acre ranch, El Ranchito. </p> <p>His adobe house at El Ranchito was built around 1850 and is a reflection of the rancho lifestyle in Southern California of the time and his active contribution to the development of American California. Today, the adobe is beautifully restored with historic gardens at Pio Pico State Historic Park in Whittier, CA. Explore the adobe house, the gardens, and learn about what life was like on the ranch, the culture and history of the Californios, and the life of Pio Pico.  </p>