Juana Briones y Tapia de Miranda 1802-1889 North Beach Pioneer
JUANA BRIONES, BORN IN HISPANIC CALIFORNIA, WAS A PREEMINENT
WOMAN OF HER TIME. IN THE 1830S AND 1840S SHE TRANSFORMED AN
ISOLATED COVE IN THE THEN MEXICAN HAMLET OF YERBA BUENA INTO HER
RANCHO. AT THE SITE OF THIS PARK SHE RAISED CATTLE AND GREW
VEGETABLES FOR SALE TO SHIP CREWS. SHE GAVE SANCTUARY TO REFUGEES
AND WAS REVERED AS A HEALER AND CARE-GIVER. SHE IS HONORED AS A
HUMANITARIAN, ASTUTE BUSINESSWOMAN, COMMUNITY BUILDER, AND
DEVOTED MOTHER OF EIGHT CHILDREN.
PLAQUE PLACED BY STATE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION IN
COOPERATION WITH SAN FRANCISCO RECREATION AND PARKS
DEPARTMENT, THE WOMEN’S HERITAGE MUSEUM, AND THE BAY AREA
NETWORK OF LATINAS, OCTOBER 8,1997.
Submitted by Jon Jenkins