The farm was originally the estate of George Washington Patterson, who developed it in the mid-19th century. The Patterson House, a graceful Victorian structure, anchors the property and serves as a museum of domestic life from the era. The surrounding farmland has been maintained with period-appropriate crops and farming methods, creating a living-history experience that goes beyond static museum displays. Peacocks roam the grounds, and the farm's gardens showcase both ornamental and agricultural plantings.

What sets Ardenwood apart from static historical sites is its commitment to active demonstration. Visitors can watch -- and sometimes participate in -- plowing, planting, and harvesting using the tools and techniques of the 1880s. The farm keeps livestock appropriate to the period and hosts seasonal events including corn festivals and a popular railroad excursion on a narrow-gauge track. For children growing up in Silicon Valley, Ardenwood may be the closest encounter they have with the agricultural economy that preceded the technology industry.

Managed by the East Bay Regional Park District since the 1980s, Ardenwood occupies a niche that few parks fill: it is both a nature preserve and a working farm, both a museum and a playground. The park's trails wind through eucalyptus groves and along the edges of seasonal wetlands, connecting the farm to the broader network of East Bay open spaces. From the air, the farm's cultivated fields are visible as geometric patches of green amid the gray of suburban development.