Biddy Mason Memorial Park

Downtown LA’s Bradbury Building has a hidden landmark located on the south side of the structure between Broadway and Spring Streets.  

The Biddy Mason Memorial Park is a tribute to Bridget “Biddy” Mason, who was born into slavery in 1818 and moved to San Bernardino, California, with the household that owned her in 1851. 

California was admitted to the Union in 1850 as a free, non-slave state, which meant she was being held illegally. Mason fought for her freedom in court -- and won in 1856. 

After securing her freedom, Biddy began a new life settling in Los Angeles with her children and became a relatively wealthy property owner, nurse and midwife, and philanthropist.  

In 1866, she purchased the land that is now present-day Broadway (then Fort Street) and Spring Street, between 3rd and 4th Streets and built her homestead. 

This has become the present site of Biddy Mason Memorial Park, fashioned by female landscape architects Katherine Spitz and Pamela Burton, along with artist Sheila Levrant de Bretteville.  

Visitors can learn about Biddy's life and story by following along the 80-foot-long poured concrete wall, which is an illustrated timeline of her fascinating life.

The timeline travels right to left blending text and images including Biddy’s freedom papers to tell a story -- ending with the inspiring inscription: “Los Angeles mourns and reveres Grandma Mason.”