BIDDY MASON PARK

The life and work of the "Grandmother of Los Angeles", Biddy Mason (1818-1891), to whom the park is dedicated, are humbling. Born a slave in Georgia, she was sold twice. Although the state of California, where she moved in 1851, had abolished slavery a year earlier, she was not freed until 1856. She then worked as a nurse and midwife, earning a reputation for her business acumen, her commitment to minorities and her philanthropic actions, including the creation of a school for African-Americans.