Neighborhood Highlights
Historic Uptown Whittier
Walk, shop, and dine. Considered the “heart of Whittier,” this charming historic shopping district features an eclectic array of boutiques, dining venues ranging from casual to fine dining, a restored multiscreen movie theater, and more. Nestled against the Whittier hills, the district serves as a scenic backdrop for special events, including antique fairs, vintage car shows, and the annual Christmas Parade. It’s also home to a farmers market and the Uptown Whittier Museum.
Jonathan Bailey House
Known previously as “the old ranch house,” the Bailey House is located at its original site at 13421 Camilla Street. Built between 1868 and 1869, this six-room wooden structure was the home of Whittier’s first settlers, Jonathan and Rebecca Bailey, who founded a Quaker community. Operated by the Whittier Historical Society, the Bailey House is one of seven designated historic landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Pío Pico State Historical Park
This historic landmark, a 5-acre park, encompasses historic gardens and the beautiful restored adobe home of Pío Pico, one of California’s most remarkable historical figures. He was governor of California in 1832 and 1846. His adobe home at “El Ranchito,” or the little ranch, has been restored to how it appeared in the 1880s, allowing visitors to experience and celebrate his life and times. The home is now surrounded by the communities of Whittier and Pico Rivera, east of Los Angeles. A bell marks the original El Camino Real, which passed directly in front of the park during Pío Pico’s time. Located near the entrance to the Greenway Bike Trail, the park is the perfect place for picnics, bird-watching, and exploring the park’s features.
A History of Whittier
Originally founded in 1887 as a Quaker colony, Whittier has a strong sense of history with more than 100 locally designated historic landmarks. The city is named after fellow Quaker John Greenleaf Whittier, a famous poet, writer, and newspaper editor.
The city is recognized as the epicenter for the early beginnings of California’s booming citrus industry. By 1901, the Whittier Citrus Association was formed and “Quaker Brand” citrus was known around the world. In 1887, Harriet Russell Strong began growing walnuts in the area, and this soon put Whittier on the map as the largest walnut-growing area in the United States.
Also in 1887, 20 acres were set aside for the development of a college. A collapse in the land boom stalled construction, so in 1896, the Whittier Academy officially changed its name to Whittier College.
