Anne Petersen, Mary Carbajal and Betty Ramos at the Pico Adobe, July 2012. Photo by Mike Imwalle.
A few weeks ago, SBTHP archaeologist Mike Imwalle and I had the pleasure a giving a tour of the Pico Adobe at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park to two sisters, Betty Ramos and Mary Carbajal. Betty and Mary, like their sister Suzi Bellman, are descendants of the Pico family. Their great-grandmother Lucretia de Jesus Pico lived in the adobe in the early twentieth century. You can read more about the oral history we conducted with their father, Jack Calderon, here.
Betty and Mary at the genealogical chart display in the Presidio visitor center. Photo by Mike Imwalle.
These lovely siblings are not only connected to the Pico family but to several other Presidio families as well, including the Cotas and Valenzuelas. Their family tree, created by Suzi, hangs in the Presidio visitor center along with those created by other Presidio descendants.
We always enjoy meeting Presidio descendants and helping them stay connected with this special place that their families founded.
If you are a Presidio descendant, please reach out and leave a comment, we’d love to get to know you!
Anne Petersen is the Associate Director for Historical Resources at the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation