San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park preserves about 50 acres in San Pasqual Valley near Escondido at the site associated with the Battle of San Pasqual. On December 6, 1846, United States troops under General Stephen Kearny fought Californio forces led by General Andrés Pico in what is remembered as the bloodiest engagement in California during the Mexican–American War. The battlefield gained lasting importance in the state's military and regional history. Its preservation and creation as a park were aided by the Native Sons of the Golden West before it was transferred to California, and it is recognized as both a state park and a California Historical Landmark.