Calendar: Know Biddy, A Story of Resilience, Extended Walking Tour

Learn more about Biddy Mason!

Do you know Biddy Mason?

Biddy’s remarkable story is one of resilience that resonates with the fortitude so many of us aspire to have when the odds are stacked against us. Bridget “Biddy” Mason lived a life serving others as a nurse and midwife. She provided food and shelter to those experiencing poverty, healed the sick, and regularly visited people who were incarcerated in the county jail. As a visionary philanthropist and the first Black woman to purchase land in Los Angeles, Biddy was an instrumental figure and foremother to the development of our city.

Despite being born enslaved in Mississippi on August 15, 1818, Biddy pushed through adversity. She walked 1,700 miles to Southern California behind her master’s wagon, where she ultimately gained her freedom. As we celebrate her 201st birthday, we are reminded that her story is timeless—a story about unwavering hope, love for community, and resistance.

Extended Walking Tour:

The L.A. Conservancy, in partnership with Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation-Los Angeles (TRHT-LA), and The Biddy Mason Charitable Foundation is proud to present a Historic Downtown Walking Tour. This walk will explore some of L.A.’s most beloved landmarks, such as the Central Library, the U.S. Bank Tower, and the Bradbury Building. The walk will conclude with an extended visit at The Biddy Mason Memorial Park, where we will view a timeline of Biddy’s triumphant life on the site of her first home, hear from guest speakers, and receive a limited edition commemorative poster.

To register, please visit our website.

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