Introduction

There are more than forty-two adobes in Los Angeles County and vicinity.  Most are open for visits to the public on weekends. A few are private homes and are closed to the public.  Some are replica abodes.  I recommend that while driving between haciendas (adobes) envision how sparsely populated the area was when very few people lived in Los Angeles.  This will give you a geographic perceptive of the population at that time.  Adobes were positioned for logistical reasons of protection and transportation (like the Mission system) to be traveled in a one-day ride from each other.  They also had to be near water but not to close to a dry riverbank for fear of occasional flooding (Los Angeles River).  Adobes were mansions of their day only for the rich.  Like royalty relationships between the first hacienda families of California intertwine like a grape vine.  Visiting the adobes of Los Angeles will help give you a better understanding of the past (a great staycation trip).  Across the nation and the globe, California has special meaning to everyone.  Commemorate Her past and celebrate Her future by visiting these extraordinary adobes and learn more about the people who lived in them.

Planning A Day Trip Visit

1. Purchase a The Thomas Brothers Guide (map) Book.  Mark each page of the map book were you locate an adobe or other historic site; their address, telephone number, date of your visit and interesting observations.

2. Plan a trip first by looking up their web page or telephone the adobe for information for maps and information.  Especially telephone the adobe a couple of days in advance of the event to check on changes or cancellation of special annual programs like a "posada" since problems like inclement weather can cancel outdoor events.  Unfortunately, some adobe buildings are also closed due to limited staffing, fire and earthquake damage. 

3. Read the "Press Telegram" or “Los Angeles Times" or "Daily Breeze" to see what types of special activities are available at these adobes and other historic sites during the year.  Especially look for articles on Southern California in newspapers and magazines.  A number of adobes publish a monthly newsletter.  You can read current adobe newsletters on their web sites.  Look at the books named at the end of this adobe listing under "suggested readings" and for added pleasure go check one out at your library. 

4. Travel Time.  Most trips take about 4 hours to visit one adobe (this includes driving time & lunch).  Try to avoid traveling during weekday business hours.  Use the Metro light rail Blue, Gold, Green and Red train lines when possible to save time and money (cost $6 round trip with exchange). 

5. Meals.  For added flavor try to include a stop over at a delicious nearby Mexican or Spanish or unique nearby indigenous restaurant.  I mention a few of the best restaurants near to some of the adobes on this list that are really one of a kind. 

6. Equipment.  Take a camera for great photos and memories!

7. Assignment.  Good luck traveling our freeways and have fun adobe hunting with your students, family and friends!
 

If you have a little money and want to be chauffeured in a big air conditioned bus try traveling on a staycation with a local professional guided tour company like: Good Times Travel (unique one day trips plus vacations) or Trieloff Tours (year around fabulous escorted sightseeing vacations).  You can travel for a day trip or two week vacation on your own or with friends with these two great travel agencies.  Good Times visits several of the remote adobe ranchos in this listing.  Click on their web sites to check out their busy year around calendar (a good way to plan a trip during winter, spring or summer vacations).

Haciendas in Los Angeles County

1. ALAMITOS ADOBE HISTORIC RANCH AND GARDENS (1806) Second Spanish Land Grant issued in Alta California    

RANCHO LOS ALAMITOS (1834)
6400 East Bixby Hill Road, Long Beach 90815 Tel: (562) 431-3541
 

Located next to the Southwest corner of the C.S.U. Long Beach campus.  Corporal Juan Jose Nieto was one of three leather jacket soldiers (soldados de cueras) from the Catalan Regiment who came to Alta California with Don Gaspar de Portola and Father Junipero Serra in 1769 (to stop those Russians from taking over the area).  When retiring from the Spanish army he received Rancho Los Nietos 300,000 acres from the King of Spain Carlos the III.  Juan Jose Dominguez was the first to receive his "Rancho San Pedro" and Jose Maria Verdugo was another who received "Rancho San Rafael" in the same year.  Spain issued approximately 21 Alta California haciendas from 1784 to 1821.  Corporal Jose Nieto’s extremely large land grant was later divided into six ranchos: Los Alamitos, Las Bosas, Los Cerritos, Los Coyotes, Palo Alto and Santa Guertudes. 

A large and old native Californian settlement called Puvungna was located near this adobe until 1805.  The natives in Los Angeles, San Gabriel, Riverside and San Bernardino Valleys were of the Shoshone tribe (Ute-Aztec language group).  Native Californians built all of the missions and adobes and became the first vaqueros. 

Abel Stearns (a Yankee Don who married Arcadia Bandini from an Italian-Mexican family) purchased the 28,000-acre ranch in 1840.  The Bixby family bought the ranch in 1860’s and lived on it for many years.  Hands-on history room enriches a children’s 4th and 5th grade free tour program.  For more information read their newsletter on-line. 

2. ANDREAS PICO ADOBE  (1834)

 EX MISSION SAN FERNANDO (1797) 
 10940 Sepulveda Blvd, Missions Hills 91345 Tel: (818) 365-7810

Located near the San Fernando Mission and next to the YMCA.  Originally known as the Pico Reserve.  Originally known as the Pico Reserve.  Oldest home in the San Fernando Valley.  Although Andres Pico never lived in this house his adopted son Romulo Pico lived there for many years.  Who knows Zorro may have lived here too?  General Andreas Pico is the brother of the last Mexican Governor of California, Don Pio Pico (read next article).  Andreas was famous for fighting the Americans in the Mexican-American War in 1848.  Together he and his brother Pio owned over 532,000 acres of ex-mission lands of which he got much of the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys. 

The Gabrielino village of "Pasheeknga" was located near the adobe and San Fernando Mission established by the Spaniards in 1797.  This was reportedly the most populous permanent native community in the Valley.  In 1770's there was approximately 55 Gabriellino villages (Spanish term for "rancheras") populated with an average of about 100 per community, total estimated native population in excess of 5,000 people from the Shoshone tribe (Ute-Aztec language group).  Native Californians built all of the missions and adobes and became the first vaqueros.  

The Andreas Pico Adobe contains the Mark Harrington research library.  This adobe celebrates two special events each year: "Rancho Days" in September and "Las Posadas" in December.

3. ALVARDO ADOBE (1840)  

RANCHO SAN JOSE (1837)
1459 Old Setters Lane, Pomona 91766

A cousin of Ygnacio Palomares who built the near by adobe Casa Primera adobe.  Read their web sight and visit all three adobes in one day in Pomona Adobe de Palomares and La Casa Alvarado.  A large native Californian village called "Tooypinga" lay near the base of the San Jose Hills.  From the Shoshone tribe - Ute-Aztec language group.  Native Californians built the missions and adobes and became the first vaqueros.

4. ANTONIO MARIA LUGO ADOBE (1840)  Seventh Spanish Land Grant issued in Alta California    

RANCHO SAN ANTONIO (1795)

7000 Gage Ave, Bell Gardens

One of the Francisco Salvador Lugo family's many adobes located in the Casa Mobile Home Park.  Rancho de Lugo was part of the 29,513 acre Spanish land grant Rancho San Antonio.  The Lugo family owned several haciendas in Southern California.  One of their larges ranchos was originally part of the old San Gabriel Mission outpost in San Bernardino.   They eventually sold it to the Mormons because they could not stop the hostile Paiute raiding parties from repeatedly taking their cattle and horses for food and trade. 

A large native Californian village was located at rancho San Antonio called "Huutnga."  These natives were from the Shoshone tribe - Ute-Aztec language group.    

Francisco's son Antonio Maria Lugo will become "Alcalde" (Mayor) of Los Angeles under the Mexican government.  In January 1847 the last battle of the Mexican-American War was fought on this rancho.  Called the "Battle of the Mesa."  The American forces under Stockton defeated the Californian forces under Andres Pico and Manuel Garfias on the San Gabriel River near a site called "La Jaboneria."

William Wolfskill was a early American trader that came over the Santa Fe Trail and married Dona Magdalena Lugo.  In 1865 Wolfskill acquired Rancho Santa Anita and grew the largest commercial citrus crop in the USA (Valencia oranges & lemons). 

The Antonio Maria Lugo adobe resembles an twentieth century wood sided cottage.  It is also called the Gage Home.  Henry Tift Gage was Governor of California from 1899 to 1903.  This ranch was the northern boundary of Dominguez's Rancho San Pedro.  Open by appointment.  Eating at Cenaduria La Casita Mexicana for delicious food like home made "mole" (chicken with spicy chocolate & peanut butter gravy) and other one of a kind specialties. This unique restaurant is located at 4030 East Gage Ave., Bell (323) 773-1898. 

5. AVILA E. ADOBE (1818)  

NUESTRA REYNA DE LA SENORA DE LOS ANGELES DE PORCUINCULA
10 East Olvera Street, Los Angeles 90012                                                                                                                                                         

Tel: (213) 628-1274

Located in downtown Los Angeles on Olvera (not Olivera) Street across the street from Union Train Station in El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Park.  Don Agustin Avila was one of the most famous Mexican Americans in California.  He was a former "Alcalde" (Mayor) and County judge.  He also owned a Mexican land grant Rancho de la Cienega  (ranch of the marshlands) and part owner of Rancho Sausal Redondo.  He had his summer home on Olvera Street (wine street).  The Avila adobe is the oldest standing residence in Los Angeles.  Behind the adobe building is a beautiful display with historic pictures of the early settlement provided by the Los Angeles Water & Power Company.

This was the location of the native Californian Indian Village of "Yang-na" (near present Civic Center).  The natives in Los Angeles, San Gabriel, Riverside and San Bernardino Valleys were of the Shoshone tribe (Ute-Aztec language group).  Native Californians built all of the missions and adobes and became the first vaqueros.

Olvera Street is also the location of Italian and Chinese communities first established themselves in the 1850's.  For an interesting tour of this special place look for the Italian Hall (with Siqueiros Mural) and newly opened Chinese American Museum.  If you want to make a full day trip and enjoy other cultures walk 15 minutes East to China Town or 20 minutes South to Little Tokyo.

In the 1930's Ms. Christine Sterling lovingly preserved the Avila adobe and Olvera Street.  Make sure you visit the Sepulveda House built in 1887 and walk across the Plaza (xocolo) to see the Pio Pico Hotel (aka: 1869 Pio House - Casa de Pio). 

Take the Blue, Gold & Red Lines to Union Station ($6 round trip with exchanges).  Union Train Station is adjacent to Olvera Street.  During the month of December Calle Olvera is home to the Christmas "Las Posadas" and in April the blessing of the animals (read their great web site for several other special events).  Make sure you eat at Luz Del Dia restaurant for real champorado (chocolate with corn meal), home made tortillas, fresh nopales (cactus) and great carnitas.   

6. BREA ADOBE (1828)

RANCHO LA BREA (1828)  

6333 West Third Street, Los Angeles 90036

Jose Antonio Carrillo, one time "Alcalde" (Mayor) of Los Angeles, issued this land grant to Antonio Jose Rocha and Nemisio Dominguez (not from Rancho San Pedro).  The building is also known as the Gilmore Adobe. The land grant included the La Brea Tar Pits.  The building is a private office.  The adobe building can be found inside the back parking lot and is encompassed by the Los Angeles Farmers Market and L.A.'s great outdoor maul called the "The Grove."  A great place to eat a meal and do some shopping any time of the year.  Look for their special events calendar (one of them is the Italian Feast Day of San Gennaro in September).

7. CAHUENGA ADOBE (1950)

CAMPO DE CAHUENGA (1845)  
 3919 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood 91602  

A replica adobe on the site were the Treaty of Cahuenga/Guadalupe Hidalgo between the U.S. and Mexico was signed by Lieutenant Colonel John Charles Fremont and General Andres Pico that was the capitulation concluding hostilities between the Californios and Americans on January 13, 1847.   This mission adobe was originally built around 1795.  It was one of the largest adobes ever constructed by the native Americans.  In 1845 Tomas Feliz received ownership of the property called Rancho Verdugo when the treaty was signed in his kitchen.  Campo de Cahuenga Historical Memorial Association Mrs. Armitage S.C. Forbes, historian, author and who’s Foundry Casts the famous California Mission Bells along El Camino Real and the preservation of this site is  the object of the Association today, holding in early January  over 50 years a Re-Enactment of the signing of the Treaty.  The adobe is located across the street from the main entrance to Universal Studios (take the Red line to this site for $6 round trip with exchanges).

8. CASA DE ADOBE (1914)  
 4603 North Figueroa, Highland Park 90065 Tel: (323) 221-2163

Located next to the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, Heritage Squire and Charles Fletcher Lummis Home & Park.  Turn off the "Arroyo Seco" (meaning dry canyon) - 110 Pasadena Freeway exit avenue 43.  Casa de Adobe was built by the Hispanic Society of California as a replica abode.  Special events are periodically held inside of it.  The "Gold Line" light rail will drop you off right in front of this site ($6 round trip with exchanges).  In May visit all these special sites with free shuttle at "Museums of the Arroyo Day."  

9. CARRION ADOBE (1868)

RANCHO SAN JOSE ARRIBA (1837)

919 Puddingstone Drive, La Verne 91750

Privately owned home open on special occasions.  The Palomares family of Pomona built this adobe for his cousin Saturnino Carrion.  Across from the Pomona Airport in the Puddingstone Reservoir.  They own part of Rancho San Jose Arriba.  When going in this area you can visit two other nearby Pomona adobes Adobe de Palomares and La Casa Alvarado.

10. CATALINA VERDUGO ADOBE (1831) Third Spanish land grant issued in Alta California

RANCHO SAN RAFAEL (1872) 
2211 Bonita Drive, Glendale 91208

This adobe is situated on land that was part of Rancho San Rafael granted to Jose Maria Verdugo.  One of three Spanish estancias issued in Los Angeles by King Carlos III (36,403 acres).  Also known as "Rancho de Los Verdugos" it included portions of present day Glendale, Eagle Rock and Burbank.   The "Oak of Peace Tree" used to stand in this property.  General Andres Pico and General John C. Fremont  discussed the terms of the Treaty of Cahuenga/Guadalupe Hidalgo at this site.  When traveling here visit the nearby Jose Maria Verdugo adobe (her father).  Both adobes are located near the Glendale Community College and the Glendale Galleria.  

11. CENTINELA ADOBE (1844)

RANCHO AGUAJE DE LA CENTINELA (1834)

7634 Medfield Ave, Los Angeles 90045    Tel: (310) 671-2075 or (310) 677-2067

Ignacio Machado adobe sits on property that was originally carved out of the 25,000 acre Mexican Rancho Sausal Redondo (ranch of the circular willow grove) owned by the Don Francisco Avila who was a Mayor - "Alcade" and has a lovely adobe on Olvera Street (a must visit - eat at Luz de Dia). 

In 1860 Rancho Aguaje de la Centinela (ranch of the water sentinel) was bought by a Scottish Baron, Sir Robert Burnett who latter sold it to Daniel Freeman in 1873.  It is located on the northwestern boundary of Rancho San Pedro.  The adobe building sits on a rise of the 405 Freeway, exit Tijera (scissors) Boulevard, same off-ramp as Loyola-Marymount University (west of 405 Freeway).  A Mexican Rancho called Las Cienega O' Paso de la Tijera was east of this ranch.  This ranch is considered the birthplace of the City of Inglewood and Headquarters of the Centinela Valley Historic Society (meetings fourth Saturday of the month at 1:30pm).  When you visit you will find out were chinchilla ranching began in the USA.  The adobe has a monthly newsletter with many activities like a wonderful open house and great bar-b-q in June.  Complex open to the public with free tours every Sunday 2 to 4pm.  Weekday and Saturday tours available by appointment.

12. CERRITOS ADOBE (1844) Second Spanish Land Grant issued in Alta California

 RANCHO LOS CERRITOS (1844)
 4600 Virginia Road, Long Beach 90807 Tel: (562) 570-1755

The adobe building is located across the Los Angeles River in an area called Bixby Knoll's (near Northwest area of Long Beach) and just south from Ranch San Pedro Dominguez Adobe.  The Cerritos adobe is in the Virginia Golf Course.  Nieto was in the Spanish Catalan Regiment and a friend of Juan Jose Dominguez (his nearest neighbor).  Originally part of Jose Nieto’s 300,000 acres Rancho Los Nietos was eventually divided into six (6) different ranchos.  Many years later Rancho Los Cerritos became the home of Jonathan Temple (married Rafada Cota-Nieto) in 1844.

In 1866 Temple sold Rancho Los Cerritos to the Northern California sheep-raising firm of Flint, Bixby & Co, which consisted of brothers Thomas and Benjamin Flint and their cousin Lewellyn Bixby, for $20,000.  Jonathan Bixby lived in the original Temple adobe and raised sheep is considered the "Father of Long Beach."    Rancho Los Cerritos is located on the southern boundary of Rancho San Pedro.  In 1888 the Long Beach Land Company will purchase a portion of land on the northwest corner of this ranch and incorporate the City of Long Beach.

A large native Californian village called "Tevaaxa'anga" was located at this ranch.  The natives in Los Angeles, San Gabriel, Riverside and San Bernardino Valleys were of the Shoshone tribe (Ute-Aztec language group).  Native Californians built all of the missions and adobes and became the first vaqueros.

The adobe was built by Jonathan Temple and contains a wonderful Bixby library collection of 3000 period books that can be used by students interested in researching the 1860’s to 1920’s.  They also have an interesting gift shop.  Try to attend Cerritos Adobe "mud mania" event on Sunday, August 17th  and their special 1880'sChristmas weekend event with period music provided by CSULB in December.  The Cerritos Adobe publishes a great monthly newsletter called "Quick Notes."

13. CIENEGA O' PASO DE LA TIJERA ADOBE (1790)  

RANCHO LAS CIENEGA O' PASO DE LA TIJERA (1790)
3725 Don Felipe Drive, Los Angeles 

Originally granted to Vicente Sanchez, one time "Alcalde" (Mayor) of Los Angeles and later to Tomas A. Sanchez, famous Sheriff of Los Angeles (1859 - 67).  It is located in a large marsh  (cienega-marshland-swamp) area near La Ballona Creek were the hills open up in the shape of a scissors (tijera).  The land contains the Crenshaw District.   From August 16th through September 1st enjoy an extravagant African Marketplace & Cultural Faire with entertainment, foods and crafts at this original Mexican adobe (for more information phone (323) 293-1612) .   This large adobe building is not open to the public - private offices. 

14. DOMINGUEZ ADOBE (1826)

RANCHO SAN PEDRO (1784)  First Spanish Land Grant issued in Alta California

http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/rancho/pages/spnsh_prd_1.htm

http://www.maureenmegowan.com/PageManager/Default.aspx/PageID=1471578&NF=1                                                                                      

18127 South Alameda Street, Compton 90220   Tel: (310) 603-0088 for group tours (562) 981-3810 (voice)

Since Corporal Juan Jose Dominguez a soldado de cuera mustered out of the Catalan Regiment to receive the first estancia in California called Rancho San Pedro, 75,000 acres (11 cities - 120 sq. miles).  Carlos III a Bourbon King of Spain issued the Rancho San Pedro land grant in 1784 (first out of 21 issued in Alta California).  Juan Jose's mother was Ana Maria Sepulveda, a member of another prominent Castilian Family.  The Sepulveda family will eventually take 35,000 acres from the Dominguez Rancho San Pedro (in 1834) and call it Rancho Palos Verdes. 

A large native Californian village called "Tongva" was located on this ranch by Los Angeles Harbor Community College.  These indigenous people were of the Shoshone tribe (Ute-Aztec language group).  Native Californians built all of the missions and adobes and became the first vaqueros.

Juan Jose gave his ranch to his nephew Cristobal who then gave it to his son Manuel (grand nephew to Juan Jose).  Manuel built the surviving adobe in 1824.  He married Maria Engracia Cota (Jose Neito's granddaughter).  Together they had six daughters whose names are still found in our surrounding community.  Dominguez name is found in a university (C.S.U. Dominguez Hills), a high school (Dominguez H. S. in the City of Compton), cities, streets and corporations with names such as Dominguez Estate Company , Carson Estate Company, Del Amo Estate Company and Watson Land Company.  Don Manuel Dominguez was one of the very few citizens of his era to hold public office under both the Mexican and U.S. governments in California.  Before 1857, he was elected three times as "Acalde" (Mayor) of Los Angeles and Judge; he was chosen as a delegate to the convention in Monterey which drew up the first bilingual (Spanish - English) State Constitution, and he later served as a Supervisor for Los Angeles County.

In 1810, Jose Dolores Sepulveda (a distant cousin) grazed a thousand head of cattle in the southwest portion of the property known as Canada de Los Palos Verdes (Canyon of the Green Trees).  In 1834, a judicial decree was made by Governor Jose Figueroa of 31,600 acres of Rancho San Pedro to the Sepulvedas which was intended to settle the dispute between the Dominquez and Sepulveda families. Juan Capistrano Sepulveda and Jose Loreto Sepulveda were awarded the 31,629-acre Rancho Palos Verdes.

The City of Carson is named for his grandson Miguel who's father George Carson who married Manuel's daughter Victoria and became his ranch foreman.  The Carson family lived for many years next door to the Dominguez adobe in a beautiful East Lake Victorian Home.  The Carson home was torn down in 1961 the same year the old Pacific Electric Red Car (comprehensive and efficient light rail that ran in southern California from the 1880s to 1961) stopped running in L.A..  Paradoxically the Blue line train opened in 1984 is the first of a series of functional rapid transit lines running on the original electronic car line.  All Pacific Electric Red Car lines were removed by evil people affiliated with General Motors who because of their greed and willful ignorance left us with the nations worst transportation system with no hope to fix this mess. 

The Dominguez ranch is the home of the first cattle ranch in Los Angeles (the lemon drop or oxen yoke) branding iron registered in 1784, Los Angeles first railroad system on the Alameda Corridor opened in 1868 and first air show in the new world in 1910.  General Phineas Banning will purchase land from Don Manuel Dominguez and develop the City of Wilmington with his freight line and the Port of Los Angeles ("father of the LA Harbor") and bring the US Army Camel Corp at the Drum Civil War Barracks a few blocks from his home.  In 1924 this adobe has been part of the Casa Claret Retirement Facility (Roman Catholic Church).  Many Dominguez Ranch manuscripts are kept in the C.S.U Dominguez Hills archives are available for people to use as an historic resource.   

Attend the annual C.S.U. Dominguez Christmas party called a "Las Posadas" in the first or second Saturday in December at the Dominguez Adobe (telephone the adobe for date).  Thanks to the Dominguez family (Watson & Carson) Mr. Tom Huston and Father Patrick J. McPolin, C.M.F., the adobe was recently re-born and everything is new again.  They have a great group of docents ready to give weekly tours to individuals and groups.  For more information telephone to make an appointment to visit this unique adobe.   On January 10th both the Dominguez Adobe and CSUDH began celebrating the 100th year for the first US air show.  The 1910 air show  was conducted at the Dominguez Ranch and was the birth place of our California aviation industry.  Check out the adobe for special aviation presentations and come to the university Student Union to see large and beautiful display of posters, newspaper articles, pictures and interesting stuff.

15.  FELIZ ADOBE (1830)   Fifth Spanish Land Grant issued in Alta California

RANCHO NUESTRO SENORA DE REFUGIO DE LOS FELIZ (1795)
Park Ranger's Headquarters  
4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles 91711 

Originally the 6,647 acre ranch was given to Corporal Jose Antonio "Paco" Vicente Feliz, who became the first "Alcalde" (Mayor) of Los Angeles.  This is one of the first Spanish land grants in California.  Corporal Paco Feliz (last name means "happy" in Spanish) was a very active solder of the Spanish Crown.  Arriving in 1871 he helped establish the town of Los Angeles as an escort for the 11 founding families.  As a soldado de cuerva he also served as a member of the 1776 Captain Juan Bautista de Anza Expedition.  After his military career Don Feliz continued to be active in local government as town judge, council and comisonado (city manager).   Don Feliz was beloved by the residents of LA.  He was given the name of "little Father of the pueblo."  His main adobe was located in the vicinity of the L.A. Zoo.  It was hexed by his niece Dona Petranilla Feliz in 1863 (read about this ghost story on the website above).  An abode out building built by his heirs is an office located at the Crystal Springs Drive entrance of Griffith Park. 

In 1863 Don Antonio Francisco Coronel came into ownership of the rancho.  He was another retired military man with a distinguish career in the Mexican/American War.  Don Coronel was also an educator who's family opened the first school in Los Angeles under the Lancastrian system.  He is credited with the establishment of a school that becomes St. Vincent's College for men that will evolve into Loyola Marymount University (LMU is the oldest university in Los Angeles).  Don Coronel was also a friend of the mission native Californian.  In 1882 he was instrumental in helping Ms. Helen Hunt Jackson write her novel "Ramona."  At this time Petranilla a niece of Don Feliz would also place a curse of the rancho since losing her inheritance which would later play a part in Colonel Griffith J. Griffith (who married a Verdugo) giving away much of this rancho to the city to create the nations largest park.

Make time to see the new Griffith Observatory and/or Museum of the South West also known as Gene Autry Cowboy Museum.  Try eating at Lawyers "Tam-O'Shanter." A fine Scottish restaurant a few miles from this site (best prime rib meal in the world).

16. FLORES ADOBE (1839)

RANCHO EL RINCON DE SAN PASCUAL (1834) 
1804 Foothill Street, South Pasadena  

Pascual means "Easter Day" Ranch.  The San Gabriel Mission land grant in 1827 deeded 14,000 areas comprising the Northeast corner of the mission property to Dona Eulalia de Guillon (she was the care taker for the mission fathers) who deeded it to Colonel Manuel Garfias.  The San Gabriel Mission once owned all the land from the City of Los Angels to east of Riverside.  Colonel Garfias never lived in this adobe.  The original inhabitants of Pasadena and surrounding areas was the Native American Hahamog-na tribe, a branch of the Tongva (part of the Shoshone language group).  General George S. Patton, hero of WWII US 3rd Army tank corp., was born in this home in 1885.  General Patton was the grandson of Don Benito Wilson.   Don Wilson marries into the Yorba clan and eventually becomes the first Anglo mayor of Los Angeles.  Wilson is the grandfather of General Patton.  Benito  bought Rancho San Pascual and started the Lake Vineyards in South Pasadena (Lake Ave).  He sold a portion of this ranch to a group of people called themselves the "Indiana Colony" who eventually established the City of Pasadena in 1886 (Pasadena is a Minnesota - Chippewa word meaning "valley").  Not open to the public.  Private residence.

17. HART ADOBE (1885)

MEMORIAL PARK 

222 West Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre 91204

Replica adobe constructed by John Hart who sold a fine wine known as the Montenvina Winery.   The Sierra Madre Memorial Park Service uses the building as a senor citizen facility.  The Gold Line will eventually reach the City of Monrovia in 2020.  The Gold Line after leaving Pasadena runs East - West along the 210 Freeway paralleling the San Gabriel Mountains.

18. HERMITAGE ADOBE (1869)

2121 Monte Vista Street, Pasadena  

Replica built by James Craig in 1869 (five years before Pasadena was a city).  Not open to the public.  Private residence.

19.  HUGO REED ADOBE (1839)

 RANCHO SANTA ANITA (1841)  
 300 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia 91007  Tel: (626) 821-3222                                                                                                                     

This adobe building is located on Ex Mission San Gabriel Mexican land grant.  San Gabriel Mission land once encompassed all of present-day Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.  A large native American village called "Aluupkenga" was located at this ranch.  The adobe is located inside the Los Angeles State & County Arboretum in Arcadia, adjacent to the 210 Foothill Freeway.  Don Perfecto Hugo Reed was a Scottish gentleman who married the beautiful Tongva - Gabrielino native Californian princess Victoria Bartolomea (Shoshone tribe - Ute-Aztec language group ).  After receiving this Mexican land grant and was one of the first people to fight for Native Californian civil rights.  The first California (Valencia) orange groves were planted in this area by the San Gabriel Mission fathers in 1804.  Reed along with William Wolfskill took the idea of growing oranges and lemons commercially from the mission fathers.  Together they created one of California's major industries (we still produce the nations majority citrus crops).    

The arboretum contains a unique botanical garden with Elias "Lucky" J. Baldwin's Queen Ana's Cottage (building seen in the TV. series Fantasy Island).  This is a complete day trip unto itself.  Good fast food service inside the park.  You will also see many beautiful peacocks from India.  Take the 210 Foothill freeway and get off on Baldwin Avenue.  The Gold Line will eventually take you to this garden of Eden by the year 2020.  The LA Arboretum is literally across from the Santa Anita Race Track and Shopping Mall.  Take a short drive down Rosecrans Blvd. (Lakewood Blvd.) to eat at Clearman's Northwood Inn for a great steak and visual treat.

20. JOHN A. ROWLAND MUSEUM & ADOBE (1855)

 RANCHO LA PUENTE (1845)  
 16021 East Gale Ave, Hacienda Heights 91744   

The land was originally part of Mission San Gabriel.  The San Gabriel Mission owned everything from the City of Los Angeles east to Riverside County.  Rancho La Puente land grant consisted of 48,790 acres.  In 1841 the first Americans to travel by wagon to California from the east coast, Rowland and Workman Families (with Benjamin "Benito" Wilson - marries into the Yorba clan and first Anglo mayor of L.A.  and grandfather of General Patton).  This is the first brick house in Southern California (not adobe).

21. JUAN MATIAS SANCHEZ ADOBE (1872)

RANCHO LA MERCED (1844)  
EX MISSION SAN GABRIEL (1771)

946 Adobe Avenue and East Loa Amigos Avenue, Montebello 90640   

Rancho La Merced is a Mexican land grant consisting of 2,364 acres.  Located on the Northeast border of the Dominguez family Rancho San Pedro.  Elias "Lucky" J. Baldwin received this property after the Temple Bank closed.  Read their web page for details on how the Californios lost their land to scrupulous Yankee bank loans.

22. LAS TUNAS ADOBE (1769)

EX MISSION SAN GABRIEL (1771)
315 Orange Street, San Gabriel  91776

Oldest continuously occupied home in Southern California.  Once part of the San Gabriel Mission and once owned by Don Perfecto Hugo Reid from Rancho Santa Anita and Henry Dalton from Rancho Azusa.  "Las tunas" means cactus pear in Spanish.  Not open to the public.

23. LIEBRE ADOBE (1858)

RANCHO LA LIEBRE (1843) 

Tejon Ranch Company,  State Route 138

La Liebre adobe is located 10 miles east of Gorman in the Tejon Pass.  Governor Pio Pico granted the 48,799-acre rancho "La Liebre" (Spanish for Rabbit or hare) to Jose Maria Flores.  After the American Civil War it was sold to an American Edward F. Beal.  Beal was active in the Mexican-American War.  He also supplied Fort Tejon by means of the first American camel Corps from the Drum Barracks in Wilmington during the Civil war.  When in the area visit Fort Tejon.  La Liebre adobe is not open to the public.

24. LOPEZ ADOBE (1883)  

 EX MISSION SAN FERNANDO (1771)  http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/rancho.htm

 1100 Pico Street                                                 Mailing Address: 1303 Glenoaks
 San Fernando 91340                                          San Fernando, Ca 91340

Monterey-style adobe.  In 1837 Jose de Gracia Lopez was a majordomo (foreman) of Mission San Fernando's Rancho San Francisco.  Francisco Lopez his son with the Cota brothers were the first persons to discover gold in commercial quantities in Southern California, Placerita Canyon in 1842.  1874 San Fernando was the first establish city in the valley on Lopez property (thus they are the "first family of the San Fernando Valley").  In later years this adobe was a stop on the Butterfield stage line traveling to Virginia City, Nevada (in the 1880's the rail road put a stop to this stage route).  In 1913 the Van Norman Reservoir dam was built were the original homestead Lopez adobe existed.

25. LOPEZ DE LOWTHER ADOBE (1806)

MISSION SAN GABRIEL (1771) 

330 North Santa Anita Ave, San Gabriel 91776

Established on September 8, 1771, as the 4th mission out of 21.  Mission buildings are located in and around the San Gabriel Mission Complex.  Known as "The Pride of the Missions and "The Queen of the Missions," mission lands once encompassed all of present day Los Angeles, Orange County, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. 

In 1770's there was approximately 55 Gabriellino villages (Spanish term for "rancheras") populated with an average of about 100 per community, total estimated native population in excess of 5,000 people from the Shoshone tribe (Ute-Aztec language group).  Native Californians built all of the missions and adobes and became the first vaqueros.  The Lopez adobe was one of the many out buildings for their mission workers that exists today.  Open by appointment.

26. MICHAEL BLANCO ADOBE (1845)

RANCHO HUERTA DE CUATI (1830)  
2701 Huntington Drive, San Marino 

Private property located on the campus of San Marino High School.  Today the adobe is home to the San Marino Historical Society.  The 77 acres ranch was part of the San Gabriel Mission.  It is near the Old Mission Grist Mill - El Molina Viejo (forerunner of California's billion dollar agriculture economy).  Michael Blanco (White) was an Englishman who married into the Eulalia Perez family from Rancho San Pascual (South Pasadena).  The Huntington Botanical Gardens & Library is also located on this rancho.  The Huntington is great place to eat lunch and "take tea" (no entrance fee third Thursday of every month).

27. MIGUEL Y ESPIRITU LEONIS ADOBE (1844)

RANCHO EL ESCORPION (1844)          
23537 Calabasas Road, Calabasas 91302  Tel: (818) 222-6511                                           

The adobe is located in a park in the Northwest corner of the San Fernando Valley.  The area is also named Las Calabasas meaning pumpkins or gourds.  Miguel Leonis was called “the King of Calabasas.”   His home is Monterey style adobe.  The park has many activities during the year.  The Plummer House built in the 1870’s was relocated to this site.  Great place to take a group of people.  Shop in their unique period store.  Click onto their web site and read their on-line Leonis Adobe Newsletter.  Eat delicious foods at the nearby Sagebrush Cantina.  Look for the park sign off the 101 Ventura Freeway going North just before you start climbing to Agura.

28. MIGUEL ORTIZ ADOBE (1870)

RANCHO LA LIEBRE (1846) 

13980 Elizabeth Lake Road, Elizabeth Lake

Located 18 miles from Beale's adobe near the town of Gorman and situated along the old stage road that ascends from San Francisquito Canyon.  Miguel Ortiz was a muleteer for General Edward F. Beale.  Not open to the public.  

29. ONTIVEROS ADOBE (1837)

 RANCHO SANTA GUERTUDES (1821)  
 12100 East Mora Drive, Santa Fe Springs 90670  Tel: (562) 946-6476                       

Adobe ruins are located in Heritage Park off of Telegraph and Pioneer Boulevard.  Ontiveros was mayordomo (foreman) of Mission San Juan Capistrano cattle ranch and who latter owned Rancho San Juan Cajon de Santa Ana.  The old adobe building is now only a ruin foundation. 

Originally the Tongva native Californians lived in this area (park has a quaint exhibit for this tribe).  They were from the Shoshone tribe - Ute-Aztec language group.  It became part of Mission San Gabriel land in 1771.  It changed hands between Manuel Nietos Rancho and the mission.  This park has many year around activities with a restored 1870s barn and beautiful period garden.  They offer a great summer concert series in June & July with bar-b-que (check out their web site above).

30. ORTEGA - VIEARE ADOBE (1769)

RANCHO LAS TUNAS (1846) 

616 South Ramona Street, San Gabriel 91776

This adobe is located next to the San Gabriel Mission (Ex Mission San Gabriel Mexican land grant).  Owned by several people.  Don Perfecto Hugo Reid once lived in this adobe.  One of the county's oldest adobe building inhabited since 1769.  San Gabriel Mission land once encompassed all of present-day Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.  Not open to the public.

 Jedediah Smith Strong a mountain man who was the first American to travel by land to California stopped at this abode in 1826.

31. OSSA ADOBE (1849)

 RANCHO DE LOS ENCINOS (1845)  

16756 Moorpark Street and La Maida,  Encino 91436 Tel: (818) 784-4849  

Built by Don Vincente De La Ossa.  It was a 4460-acre Rancho was originally part of Mission San Fernando.  Eulalia Peréz from Rancho San Pascual (South Pasadena) spent many years of her life in the homes of various daughters, including that of Constancia Guillén de la Ossa, wife of Vicente de la Ossa, owner of Rancho de los Encinos, foundation of Encino, California, now Los Encinos State Historic Park.  Los Encino State Historic Park includes the Garnier house.  "Encino" is the Spanish word for oak tree.  This adobe also served as a stagecoach station for those traveling on the El Camino Real to San Luis Obispo.  The building was beautifully restored only a few years ago.  Located near the 101 Ventura freeway.  Several events are held in this park each year.

32. PALOMARES ADOBE (1854)

RANCHO SAN JOSE (1837)
491 East Arrow Highway       
Pomona 91767       Tel: (909) 623-2198
 

Don Ygnacio Palomares Adobe is the home of the Historic Society of Pomona.  The Adobe served as a stagecoach station to San Bernardino.  Visit two other nearby Pomona adobes; La Casa Alvarado (private home next to La Casa Primera) and La Casa Primera.  While visiting these adobes stop to eat some good Mexican food at La Cabana Restaurant located at 500 North Palomares Street.

33. PIO PICO MANSION & ADOBE (1852)

RANCHO PASO DE BARTOLO VIEJO (1843)  
6003 South Pioneer Blvd, Whittier 90606  Tel: (562) 695-1217                                        

Originally acquired as a Mexican land grant from ex-Mission San Gabriel by Bernardo Guirado.   San Gabriel Mission land once encompassed all of present-day Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.  Pio Pico bought this ranch from the heirs of Juan Crispin Perez in 1848.  Affectionately called by Governor Pio Pico as "El Ranchito," the little rancho.  It initially was part of Pico’s more than 8,894 acres Rancho Paso de Bartola (1/2 of Pico Rivera - Whittier area).  The 5-acre state park is located adjacent to the 605 San Gabriel Freeway and Whittier Boulevard off ramp (west side of 605 freeway).   Although he and his wife Maria Ygnacia Alvarado (her father was a Mexican Governor of California too) never had any biological children they adopted many relatives.  Pio Pico was born at the San Gabriel Mission and came from a very large family.

Pio Pico was the last Mexican Governor of Alta California.  As Governor of Alta California Pio Pico sold and owned many ranchos from ex-mission lands.  By 1855 both he and his brother Andreas Pio owned over 532,000 acres of land in California (not counting his large land holds in Baja California, Mexico).  One of these ranchos was El Rancho de la Nacion (Ranch of the Nation - today known as National City south of San Diego near the Mexican boarder).  Pio sold this ranch to his brother-in-law Don Juan Foster who later sold it to the Kimball brothers.  Don Juan Foster bought all of Mission San Juan Capistrano from Pio (to the victor belong the spoils - I guess?).  Pio also owned one of the largest ranches ever created out of mission lands - Rancho Santa Margarita  y Las Flores (it is now know as the Marine's Camp Pendleton).     

In 1869 he built a beautiful 33 room Casa de Pico (Hotel) across from Olvera Street (old town).  Pio was eventually cheated by a banker and evicted from his beloved "El Ranchito" in 1892.  He past away penniless in 1894.  Both Pio Pico and his wife Maria are buried in the Workman - Temple Cemetery "El Campo Santo."  "El Campo Santo" is located on Rancho La Puente in the City of Industry just 20 minutes north of this ranch off the 60 freeway (try to visit both of these wonderful sights on the same day).  Also cruse east from the adobe on Whittier Boulevard for 10 minutes and turn left onto Painter Blvd to visit the quant old City of Whittier (good place to shop & eat lunch).

"El Ranchito" is operated and open to the public all year long by the California Department of Parks & Recreation.  It hosts many special events commemorating our Mexican heritage.  They have a 1800's general store on the premises.      

34. PRIMERA ADOBE (1837)

RANCHO SAN JOSE (1837)            
1569 North Park Ave, Pomona 91767 Tel: (909) 623-2198

The first Palomares and Vejar adobe located near the Pomona Fair grounds.  A 22,000-acre Mexican land grant.  You can visit three other adobes that are restored and open to the public in the Pomona area: Adobe de Palomares, La Casa Alvarado (private home next to La Casa Primera) and La Casa de Carrion.   This is the first adobe built in the Pomona Valley (primera means first in Spanish). 

35. REYES ABODE (1797)  Spanish Land Grant

RANCHO NUESTRA SENORA LA REINA DE LAS VIRGENES (1797)
Reyes Adobe Road at Rainbow Crest Drive, Agoura Hills 91301

One of the original Spanish land grant given to Miguel Ortega.  Jacinto Reyes built the adobe between 1790 and 1820.  The 1,700 square-foot home served as a working cattle ranch and rest stop for travelers moving up and down El Camino Real (Royal Road - Kings Highway) that paralleled the future 101 Ventura Freeway.  The barn was added in the early 1900s.  The City of Agoura Hills restored and renovated the adobe and barn in 2004.  It was in ruins for hundreds of years.

36. ROCHA ADOBE (1865)  Twenty Second Spanish Land Grant issued in Alta California

RANCHO RINCON DE LOS BUEYES (1821)
2400 Shenandoah Street, Los Angeles 90034

One of the last Spanish land grant issued to Bernardo Higuerra and Cornelio Lopez in 1821.  Was originally part of the Los Angeles City common grazing grounds and known as a natural corral for oxen.  Private residence that is not open to the public.

37. SAN RAFAEL ADOBE (1872) Third Spanish Land Grant Issued in Alta California

RANCHO SAN RAFAEL (1785)      
1330 Dorothy Drive, Glendale 91202 Tel: (323) 956-2000                                        

Home of Corporal Jose Maria Verdugo one of three Spanish estancias issued in Los Angeles by King Carlos III (36,403 acres).  Also known as "Rancho de Los Verdugos" it included portions of present day Glendale, Eagle Rock and Burbank.  Verdugo was a Spanish soldier who received one of the first ranches in Alta California with Juan Jose Dominguez (Rancho San Pedro) and Jose Maria Nieto (Rancho Los Nietos/Cerritos) in 1784 (21 were issued by Spain).  The ranch was also know as "La Zanja" (meaning water ditch) since it provided abundant water from the adjacent San Gabriel mountains.  In 1871 the adobe became the home of Tomas Sanchez and his wife Maria Verdugo (Jose's granddaughter).  Tomas is credited with bringing the first commercial grapevines to the area.  When traveling here visit the nearby Catalina Verdugo's adobe (his blind sister).  Both adobes are located near the Glendale Community College and the Glendale Galleria.

38. SEPULVEDA ADOBE (1863) Eleventh Spanish Land Grant issued in Alta California

RANCHO LAS VIRGENES (1818) 

Mulholland Highway at Las Virgenes Canyon Road, 1872 Malibu Creek State Park

When Pedro Alcantara Sepulveda married Soledad Maria Magdelena Dominguez (not of Rancho San Pedro Ilk), he gained possession a Spanish land grant in Las Virgenes Canyon.  The adobe is abandoned and in ruins.

39. SHADOW RANCH ADOBE (1869) 

EX MISSION SAN FERNANDO (1797)
22633 Van Owen Street, Canoga Park

Albert Workman, an Englishman from Australia, was a muleskinner that acquired the 13,000-acre property when he was the co-owner of the San Fernando Farm Homestead Association with Isaac Newton Van Nuys.  He imported eucalyptus seedlings from Australia and planted them around his ranch.  They were the first of their kind in the San Fernando Valley.  His property is also known as the Workman Ranch.

40. VIRARE ADOBE (1800) 

EX MISSION SAN GABRIEL (1771)
616 Ramona Street, San Gabriel    

Located near the San Gabriel Mission as another out building.  Built by Juan Vigare a mission guard.  The house was converted into the first bakery in San Gabriel.  San Gabriel Mission land once encompassed all of present-day Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.  Private residence.

41. WILLIAM R. ROWLAND RANCH ADOBE (1850)

RANCHO LA PUENTE (1845) 
Lemon Creek Park
130 Avenida Alipax, Walnut   

Today the adobe is located in a small park in the middle of a nice residential area.  Also known as "Rancho de Los Ybarras."  A large native Californian village called "Pemookanga" was located at this ranch.  They were from the Shoshone tribe  - Ute-Aztec language group.  William "Billy" Rowland was the son of John Rowland (from nearby Rancho La Puente).  Billy was the Sheriff who helped capture the notorious California bandit Tiburcio Vasquez in 1874.  Only open by appointment.

42.WILLIAM WORKMAN ABODE (1842)

RANCHO LA PUENTE (1842)  
15415 East Don Julian Road, City of Industry 91745  Tel: (626) 968-8492                              

Located off the 60 Pomona freeway (get off at Hacienda Boulevard and go north).  Part of the 48,000-acre Mexican Rancho La Puente.  Allegedly "La Puente" is named for a crude bridge built by Portola's Expedition to cross over San Jose creek in 1769.  Latter his people became the ranch laborers and vaqueros that built the many structures like a gristmill at San Jose Creek (thus a street is named Workman Mill Road in the City of Industry).

A large native Californian Gabrielino village called "Awingna" was located were La Puente High School was built.  From the Shoshone tribe  - Ute-Aztec language group.  Chief Matheo converted to the Roman Catholic faith.  His people became part of the San Gabriel Mission territory. 

The original adobe building named the "Workman House" looks like a Victorian Eastlake country home (the adobe was coved with red wood).  Workman's daughter Antonia Margarita married Francis Pliny Fist (F.P.F.) Temple in 1845.  Temple was the younger brother of Don Juan Temple from Rancho Cerritos (Nieto clan).  Over the years the family was very successful in introducing a diversity of agriculture to the area such as new breeds of cattle, large vineyards, fruit trees (were the City of Walnut gets it's name) and dry wheat farming.  Workman even tried growing cotton during the American Civil War.  Unfortunately, the family went into banking and failed at this enterprise.  After which Elias "Lucky" J. Baldwin from Rancho Santa Anita in Arcadia reposed much of their land.

In the 1920's the oil business enabled them to buy back their beloved old adobe and re-build a large elegant mansion next door called "Casa Nueva" (new house) in the vogue Spanish Revival architect.  Both buildings are beautifully restored and open to the public.  "El Campo Santo" located on this property is one of the oldest private cemeteries in Los Angeles.  The last Mexican Governor of California Pio Pico and his wife Maria Ygnacia Alvarado are buried here. 

The Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum publishes a great monthly newsletter “ The Homestead.”   Get on their mailing list.  They have a nice gift shop.  Their visitor center has many special activities year around for the family to enjoy (spectacular jazz fest,  period building show & "posada).
 

Haciendas in Other Nearby Counties

1. ASISTENCIA MISSION SAN GABRIEL'S RANCHO SAN BERNARDINO (1830)

26930 Barton Road, Redlands 92373 

Tel: (909) 793-5402   

The Asistencia (ranch) or more correctly, the Estancia was established in 1819 and abandoned at the end of the 1830's following the secularization of the mission period.  San Bernardino Valley was part of the Mission San Gabriel.  San Gabriel Mission land once encompassed all of present-day Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.  The Lugo family acquired most of the San Bernardino Valley land with this adobe building (their ranch home) on it from the mission and tried to raise cattle and horses.  However, the Lugo family eventually sold their rancho to the Mormons since they could not stop the Paiute raiding parties from stealing their animals for food and trade.  San Bernardino is the corridor to the East with the Cajon Pass linking us to Las Vegas.  The natives in Los Angeles, San Gabriel, Riverside and San Bernardino Valleys were of the Shoshone tribe (Ute-Aztec language group).  Native Californians built the adobes and became the first vaqueros for all the ranchos.  After a complete and beautiful restoration in 1960, it was dedicated as California State Historical landmark #42.  It is an outstanding example of handcrafted structures of the Water & Power Association (WPA) depression era period (1930's).

2. BLAS AGUILAR ADOBE (1794)

EX MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO (1794)
31806 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano 92675 Tel: (714) 487-0279

In 1845 Don Blas Aguilar purchased the adobe that he named La Hacienda Aguilar.  The adobe contains artifacts reflecting the different periods of San Juan Capistrano history.  Consider taking the train from the Fullerton station to go to Capistrano.  The AMTRAK train will take you there in less time and money than if you drove yourself and it is fun.  It drops you off right in front of old town and the mission.  No reservation required and it departs and returns every hour.  Make sure you walk across the tracks on the west side from the station before you leave to see the neat historic houses and petting zoo.

3. CAMARILLO ADOBE/RANCHO (1875)  

201 Camarillo Ranch Road       805) 389-8182 or email  

The land upon which the historic Camarillo Ranch now sits was once part of the original Rancho Calleguas; one of the last of the Mexican land grants, the Rancho was almost 10,000 acres in size and was given to Jose Pedro Ruiz by Governor Alvarado in 1847.  Juan Camarillo (1812-1880) obtained the Rancho from the Ruiz Family in 1875.  Juan had been a member of the Hijar-Padres Expedition to California in 1834.  In 1857, Juan settled in what is now Ventura.

The 4-½ acre Camarillo Ranch is a beautiful location for a wedding, reception, company picnic, field trip or other event.  The focal point of the Ranch is the circa 1892 Adolfo Camarillo three-story, 14-room home built in the Victorian Queen Anne style, which has been restored beautifully, inside and out by the Camarillo Ranch Foundation and City of Camarillo.  Following Juan's death in 1880, his eldest son Adolfo took over operations at the Ranch.  Adolfo Camarillo (1864-1958) was 16 at the time, and during the next 68 years he operated the Camarillo Ranch, progressing from a mostly cattle operation to crops.  Adolfo was a leading innovator, bringing in lima beans, as well as barley, corn, alfalfa, walnuts, and citrus to the area.  Over the years, Adolfo employed a number of Chumash Indians on the Ranch in a variety of capacities.  Adolfo Camarillo is often called "The Last Spanish Don."

Adolfo began the tradition of the Camarillo White Horses in 1920, when he acquired the stallion, Sultan, a Morgan, Arabian and Spanish crossbreed. The horses have been ridden by family members in numerous parades ever since, including the Rose Parade, Santa Barbara Fiesta Days Parade, and Camarillo Christmas Parade.  Opened in 2001 this is a special place of historic importance which allows you the opportunity to see these beautiful white horses.  A must visit place off highway 101 on your way north to Santa Barbara or Solvang.

4. CAMULOS MUSEUM & ADOBE/RANCHO SAN FRANCISCO (1819)    

Open 1 to 4 pm on Wednesdays & Saturdays, Piru (Ventura County) 93040 Tel: (805) 521-1501     

Originally part of Mission San Fernando this 48,000 acre Mexican land grant north eastern outpost in the Santa Clara Valley was given to Ygnacio del Valle in 1819.  His son Antonio del Valle developed the ranch and experiment with growing peach, apple, pear fig and lemon orchards.  The native "Tatavian" Indians lived in these hills and became vaquero farmers who worked the land into the 1920's.  This tribe of California native Americans are from the Shoshone tribe  - Ute-Aztec language group.

Rancho Camulos was the first to grow and ship commercially oranges.  An old walnut tree named "El Rey Nogal" is one of the original black walnut trees grown in the 1860's.  It was also famous for fine brandies.  Ms. Helen Hunt Jackson based her story "Ramona" first printed in 1884 on this ranch.  Thanks to Charles Fletcher Lummis, 40 acres of the original ranch were preserved by the State.  The ranch park has 15 structures on it.  Along with the beautiful park like grounds you can visit the 1930 school house, 1853 grand casa adobe and 1867 chapel.  Unfortunately the1867 winery building is closed due to damage caused by the 1994 earthquake.  This original ranch is still producing fresh fruit and vegetables and sells them at a store in front of the old historic park. 

While visiting the Heritage Valley area (HWY 126 runs east to west to Piru, Fillmore & Santa Paula) take time to ride the Agri-Express Train Tour and visit the Lemoneira Company Plant.

5. CUCAMONGA ADOBE/RANCHO (1840)  

Vineyard and Hemlock Tel: (909) 989-4970
Associated Associated with the historic Cucamonga Rancho this is the oldest fired-brick house in San Bernardino County.

6. DIEGO SEPULVEDA ADOBE - RANCHO SANTIAGO DEL SANTA ANA (1820)                                                                                  

1900 Adams, Costa Mesa  Tel: (949) 631-5918                                

Located on a bluff looking over the Santa Ana River in Estancia Park Costa Mesa area, this ranch was originally part of the large Mission San Juan Capistrano property.  Don Jose Andres Sepulveda (from Rancho Palos Verdes) used an older mission building to construct his new adobe.  Only eleven (11) families controlled most of Orange County before the 1850's.  The adobe is open the 1st and 3rd Saturdays on the month from 12 noon to 4 pm.   The museum is only open weekdays.  Read their web page for more information. 

7. GUAJOME ADOBE/RANCHO & REGIONAL PARK (1861)              
2040 North Santa Fe Ave (S14), Vista 92083 Tel: (1-818) 587-2807

Originally home of an American pioneer Cave Johnson Couts and his wife Ysidora Bandini (Italian) Couts.  Anglo-Hispanic architecture from the cattle boom of the 1850's.  A lovely small chapel is located next to this adobe.  This is one of the ranchos where Helen Hunt Jackson visited and developed her book "Ramona."  Today, the adobe is next to a 40 acre Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum which has many special festivals during the year check out their schedule and visit the Couts adobe within walking distance of this unique farm museum http://www.agsem.com/.

8. GUEJITO ADOBE/RANCHO (1845) 

Escondido (near San Diego Wild Animal Park)  

Rancho Guejito is the best, last, most important, most beautiful, and most intact Mexican land grant.  It is the least spoiled portion of coastal California from the Mexican border to above Santa Barbara.  Read the web site above to see if it will be destroyed and replaced with just another over built and populated suburban development (the last step in developing one large city from Santa Barbara to San Diego). 

In Southern California this is an undisturbed historical landscape second to none.  There is only one new house in its entire 22,000 plus acres.  There is an early California adobe and the ruins of several more.  There are numerous archeological remains left by Native Americans.  This is one of California's best kept secrets, situated on an elevated plateau privately owned with only one narrow winding private road for access.  It is situated North and above the San Pasqual Valley with the San Luis Rey River, Mount Palomar, and Lake Henshaw and Mesa Grande on its North and East sides and Lake Wolford to the West.  An actual hidden valley, truly the land time forgot.  Not open to the public.
 

9. JENSEN-ALVARADO RANCH HISTORIC MUSEUM (1865)

 Jensen-Alvarado Home (1880) 
 4307 Briggs Street, Riverside 92509-6692  Tel: (909) 369-6055

 
In 1850 Cornelius Boy Jensen a Danish sailor moved to California and soon married Mercedes Alvarado.  He purchased land from Louis Robidoux a French farmer to develop his orchards and a vineyard.  Brick structure built like a Danish home.  One of the first commercial production wineries in Southern California.  Interesting gift shop.  Located a few miles from the beautiful Mission Inn in historic downtown Riverside (home of the Charles Dickinson Faire in February).

10. LEO CARRILLO RANCH/RANCHO DE LOS KIOTES ADOBE (1937) 

2622 El Aguila Lane, Carlsbad  92009 

Carrillo family is one of the old California families who include the Juan Bandini family (Italian - Mexican from Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica).   Actor Leo Carrillo (1880 - 1961) built this unique rancho with several adobes on the grounds of old Rancho "Agua Hedionada" (Spanish meaning smelly water) issued under the Mexican Government to General Juan Maria Romualdo Marron in 1842.  Originally this land was part of Mission San Luis Rey.  The Kelly family who later owned and farmed this ranch -- sold a portion of land to Mr. Carrillo in 1938.  Leo named his ranch "Los Kiotes" (Spanish meaning lance).   You can easily visit the Marron - Hayes adobe on the same day (a two abodes for one event).

The adobe buildings are made in the New Mexican style that makes them a little different from the Californian adobe building style.  The City of Carlsbad saved only 27 acres of the original 2,538 rancho. 

Leo Carrillo as "Pancho" was loved by many of us kids as the side kick of the popular 1950's T.V. series called The Cisco Kid - played by Duncan Renaldo.  The Cisco Kid is a popular O. Henry story like "Don Quixote" by Cervantes.  Leo Carrillo was often seen riding his beautiful golden palomino horse named "Conquistador" in the Pasadena New Year Rose Parade.  Leo was known as "Mr. California" for his many charitable activities.  He was instrumental in the preservation of several historic sites like Hearst Castle, L.A. Arboretum, Olvera Street and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. 

His ranch park is only 10 minutes off the 405 freeway onto Palomar Airport Road that is adjacent to The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch.  Look at this extraordinary place as a recreational resource and read their website.  Try eating at the Karl Straus Brewery & Restaurant for a great salad with meatloaf and beer.

11. MANUEL GARCIA ADOBE (1849)   

31871 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano

Manuel Garcia was a Portuguese merchant who built the only Mission-Revival Style adobe still standing in Orange county.  It is not open to the public.

12. MARRON - HAYES ADOBE - RANCHO AGUA HEDIONDA (1842)

Off of I-5 Along Highway 78 in Carlsbad, Tel: (760) 729-1818  Tours by appointment.

The Buena Vista Creek Valley was home to the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians for more than 9,000 years.  The valley was also part of the original Rancho Agua Hedionda.  Portola's men named it smelly water (Spanish meaning Hedionda) in 1769.  A Mexican land grant totaling 13,311 acres was issued by governor Juan Bautista Alvarado to Juan Maria Romualdo Marron in 1842.   Juan Maria Romualdo Marron married Felipe Osuna (Don Juan Maria Osuna's daughter). 

Don Juan Maria Osuna was the first Alcalde of San Diego pueblo (1835).  From the Osuna family Don Romualdo Marron inherited an older 8825 acre Mexican land grant called Rancho San Dieguito (1833).  In 1906 this ranch becomes Rancho Santa Fe which is named for the railroad company who bought it to grow eucalyptus trees.  It is now famous for a very expensive planned housing community and Del Mar horse racing track.

Rancho Agua Hedionda remained in the Marron - Hayes family ---- one of the pioneering families of the area ---- ever since.  The Marron - Hayes Adobe, an adjacent adobe and the associated Indian archaeological sites and unique 40 foot El Salto waterfall on Buena Vista Creek are all included on the 300 acre Cultural Corridor.  Shelley Hayes Caron, who lives in the Marron - Hayes adobe on Haymar Road (which was named for the Hayes and Marron families), said the area is significant to the entire region, not just to her family. 

Actor Leo Carrillo (1880 - 1961) built this unique "Los Kiotes" adobe on the grounds of this old Mexican Rancho (you can easily visit both of these interesting nearby adobes in one day).  Both ranchos are near The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch.   Try stopping to eat at the Karl Straus Brewery & Restaurant for a great salad with meatloaf and beer.

13. NIPOMO ADOBE/RANCHO (1837) 

671 South Oakglen Ave, Nipomo    

The William G. Dana adobe is located right off the 101 freeway 45 minutes North of Santa Barbara in the City of Nipomo just before San Louis Obispo.  William is the brother of the famous author Richard Henry Dana who wrote "Two Years Before the Mast" in 1836.  The adobe sits on a ridge with a beautiful vista over looking fields that look the same as it did 200 years ago.  William "Guillermo" Dana married Maria Josefa Carrillo, daughter of Don Carlos Antonio Carrillo.  His adobe was a major stop over for people traveling between Santa Barbara and San Louis Obispo.  For many years it served as a social and political center of the area (mail depot too).  While traveling in the Central Coast on El Camino Real  stop to see this interesting adobe with a copula. 

Also take time to eat at the Far Western Hotel & Steak House in Guadalupe (drive 20 minutes through a large farming community to get to this old hotel) then go to the Central Coast Sand Dunes 5 minutes from town. 

The adobe is open on Sunday afternoons 1 to 4 pm.  In June they have a great "Heritage Day" celebration that ends with a campfire concert and barbeque.  They have a great web page with musical score (check it out to visit when they have guest speakers and events).

14. OLIVAS ADOBE - RANCHO SAN MIGUEL (1847)  http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cbhtml/cbmexico.html
 101 Via the Victoria Street, Ventura 93001 Tel: (805) 644-4346  

Exit from the Ventura freeway 101; turn right onto Olivas Park Drive (just a couple of miles North of Oxnard).  Originally part of Mission Ventura the Mexican land grant consisting of 4,600-acre called Rancho San Miguel.  In 1849 Raymundo Olivas had his Chumash Indians (located in the California Central Coast) build the adobe in the large Monterey style two-story style of architecture.  Native Californians built all of the missions and adobes and became the first vaqueros. 

15. PENASQUITAS ADOBE/RANCHO (1823) 

12020 Black Mountain Road, San Diego 92129 (858) 484-7504

Rancho Los Penasquitos is San Diego County's first Mexican land grant includes an 1823 adobe ranch house constructed by the Commandante of the San Diego Presidio.  In 1846, Rancho Los Penasquitos (meaning little cliffs) was the first place of rest for General Stephen Watts Kearny and his Army of the West after the Battle of San Pasqual.  Enlarged in 1862 as the gracious home of a celebrated Yankee river boat captain and his wife, the niece of California's last Mexican Governor, Pio Pico, the building and site comprise a National Historic and Archaeological District.  The beautiful canyon locale within a 3700-acre open space preserve offers hiking, biking and equestrian trails.

16. PERALTA ADOBE - RANCHO SANTIAGO DEL SANTA ANA (1810) Only Spanish Land Grant issued in Orange County

6398 East Santa Ana Canyon Road, Anaheim 92083  Tel: (714) 973-3190

The Peralta Adobe is located on land that once was part of Rancho Santiago Del Santa Ana (mountains of St. Ana).  Only Spanish land grant confirmed in Orange County to Don Juan Pablo Grijalva (granted in 1801).  Lieutenant Grijalva came to California with the Captain Juan Bautista de Anza Expedition in 1775.  He was a soldier, settler, rancher and pioneer.  His brother-in-law Jose Antonio Yorba took ownership of this ranch with relatives from the Peralta family from Rancho San Antonio near Berkeley, California.  The adobe was built by Ramon Peralta who was the grandson of the Spanish Governor Figueroa.  This ranch eventually became part of the James Irvine baronial spread. 

The adobe is located in a corner of a strip mall parking lot near a real estate agency and adjacent to the 91 freeway.  The adobe museum was first opened in 2006.  It is open to the public on Saturdays from 10 am to 12 noon.  Also available to school tours by appointment.

17. PETALUMA ADOBE/RANCHO (1836)

Sonoma State Park, Spain at 3rd Street West, Sonoma 

The home of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, known as 'Lachryma Montis' (Tears of the Mountain), was built in 1836, on 66,000 acre Rancho Petaluma (1834).  Once part of Mission Sonoma lands.  Native Californians built all of the missions and adobes and became the first vaqueros.  He gave the valley an native American name, Sonoma - "Valley of the Moon."  Its name was derived from the springs that now are the source of Sonoma's water supply. 

General Vallejo, born at Monterey July 7, 1808, was commander of the northern Mexican frontier, founder of the Pueblo of Sonoma, and a member of the first Constitutional Convention of California.  His grandfather, Juan Bautista Alvarado, was a soldier of Portola's expedition in 1769.  Mariano married Francisca Benicia Carrillo in 1832 (famous family from San Diego).  General Vallejo was indeed a man of great character when dealing with the numerous native Americans and illegal immigrant Americans entering into California at this time.  He also wisely dealt with the Russians at nearby Fort Ross and Bodega Bay.  This adobe is one of the last northern California Mexican Haciendas.  Make sure you visit Sebastianni Winery across from his adobe.    

18. RIOS - CALEDONIA ADOBE - RANCHO SAN MIGUEL (1846)                                                 
 San Miguel  Tel: (805) 467-3357    

The Rios - Caledonia (Scottish word meaning welcome) adobe is near Mission San Miguel (8 miles North of Paso Robles).  Built in 1835 by Chumash Indians as a mission out building.  In 1846 the adobe was bought by Petronilo Rios and a group of friends from Governor Pio Pico and called Rancho San Miguel.  From 1860 to 1886 a Scotsman named George Butchard operated the stagecoach station and hotel were many a bandit visited him (Jessie James, Daltons Brothers , Tiburcio Vasquez & Zorro) "usually followed by possess."  In 1915 it became part of highway 101.  The Rios - Caledonia adobe is now California Historical Landmark No. 937.  They have a wonderful book store and gift shop. 

19. SAN JOSE DEL VALLE ADOBE/RANCHO - WARNER SPRINGS RANCH (1844)

WARNER RANCH (1844)           
P.O. Box 399 31652 Highway, Warner Springs 92086  Tel:  (760) 782-4255

John Warner Mexican Ranch became a part of the Butterfield Overland Stage route.  Warner who became a Mexican citizen owned another hacienda in the San Fernando Valley - Rancho San Jose.  He was involved with native American revolts at both of his ranches.  The original hot springs adobe now serves as the bar for the resort.  Look for the many historic markers on the property that explain how the native Californians and Mr. Warner lived on this land.   In the 1920's Hollywood discovered this resort (both John Wayne and Bing Crosby had their cottages named after them).  The natural hot springs on this ranch are truly one of the worlds finest.  The facility has two Olympic size swimming pools that are thermal heated by natural spring water. Warner Springs Ranch is located on the eastern escarpment of the Cleveland National Forest about 30 minutes above the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park or 30 minutes from the mountain town of Julian (were gold was found in 1869).  The ranch has great golf course, tennis courts and equestrian center (try their morning breakfast ride).  No TV. or telephones are available in the 234 large cozy casita cottages facing the Palomar mountains.  Only paid guests are allowed to use the facility at this a private resort.

20. SERRANO ADOBE (1863) RANCHO CANADA DE LOS ALISOS (1841)  

Heritage Hill Historic Park  
25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest  Tel: (714) 768-0981                                    

Located on the 10,688 acre Mexican land grant Rancho Canada de Los Alisos (Spanish meaning alder tree).  The Heritage Hill Historic Park is one of the best learning experiences for people of all ages.  The park contains several historical buildings; the 1890 El Toro Grammar School, the 1891 St. George's Episcopal Mission and the 1908 Bennett Ranch House.  Attend their Autumn Harvest Festival in the month of October.  They also cater to school visits.  One of the best year around historical parks with authentic adobe to visit.

21. YORBA - SLAUGHTER ADOBE - RANCHO SANTA ANA DEL CHINO (1851)                                                                        

17127 Pomona Rincon Road, Chino 91709  Tel: (909) 597-8332              

Rancho Santa Ana Del Chino 13,328 acres belonged to Bernardo Yorba.  His wife was half San Gabriel Indian - Shoshone tribe (Ute-Aztec language group).  Home of the Battle of Chino.  Located near the 91 Freeway and Highway 71 (the Corona Expressway) to Euclid Ave: turn north on Pomona.  When traveling east on the 91 freeway plan to eat breakfast at Knott's Berry Farm on the way to visit adobes (try their delicious chicken & eggs breakfast).  His father Jose Antonio Yorba arrived in California with Portola in 1769.  In 1810 Jose received an enormous Spanish (last issued in California) land grant that comprised significant part of Orange County called Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana.  General Patton was the grandson of Don Benito Wilson.  Don Wilson marries into the Yorba clan and becomes the first Anglo mayor of Los Angeles.  Benito bought Rancho San Pascual in Pasadena and started the Lake Vineyards in South Pasadena (Lake Ave).    

Other Historic Sites

1. ARDEN THE HISTORIC HELENA MODJESKA HOUSE AND GARDENS (1888)

25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest 92630   Tel: (714) 855-2028    

Orange County Department of Harbors, Beaches and Parks. Reservations are required.  Visit a corner of the Santa Ana Mountains in Santiago Creek located in Modjeska Canyon near Lake Forest where a Polish actress and opera singer once lived in a picturesque home (an hours drive from campus).  Once the property of a pioneer couple Joseph and Maria Refugio who bought this land from Ramon Peralta - Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana.  Ms. Modjeska bought the homestead and developed a Shakespearean artist colony around a working cattle ranch, olive grove and apiary (bee keeper).  Drive 5 minutes further up the canyon and visit C.S.U. Fullerton Tucker Wildlife Bird Sanctuary.  Very interesting area to spend a 1/2 day exploring.

2. BOWERS MUSEUM

 2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana 92706  Tel: (714) 567-3600                                          

A way to look at Orange County’s history through photographs and artifacts.  Learn about the German Colony called Anna’s home purchased from Juan Pacifico Ontiveras Rancho San Juan Cajon de Santa Ana in 1857 (City of Anaheim).  The Bowers also showcases special historical programs from around the world.  Great gift shop and delicious restaurant.  In 2007 the Bowers Museum opened a new building showcasing items from the famous British Museum.  Read their superb web site for more information and to find out what special display they currently offer.

3. CALICO GHOST TOWN (1881)

P.O. Box 638,Yermo 92398   Tel: (760) 254-2122                                     

This original western ghost town is nestled in a quiet canyon rich in silver ore, take the I-15 Freeway, 10 miles North of Barstow on the way to Las Vegas.  Walk through the historical streets that western moves are made of in one day.  Check out their web sight for special activities like a civil war re-enactment.  Campgrounds available.  Thanks to Mr. Walter Knott it is a one of a kind place to visit in the desert.

4. CALIFORNIA NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES

State Drive, Exposition Park   Tel: (213) 744-7400                                    

Located across from University of Southern California (USC).  Basement has several interesting rooms full of period California historical stuff.  Look for the display cases which depict native Californian, mission and hacienda life in Los Angeles.

5. CHERRY VALLEY AND THE EDWARD DEAN MUSEUM

9401 Oak Glen Road  http://www.coolspots.com/spots/slo/spot0326.html
Cherry Valley, Exit the 10 Freeway onto Oak Glen Road 92223  Tel: (909) 845-2626

Visit a little museum full of British history.  Take time to continue up the mountain road to Oak Glen Riley's Farm to learn about the American post Civil War apple business in California.  Pick apples in Autumn - October/November and eat home grown American foods and drink fresh apple juice.

6. DRUM BARRACKS - CIVIL WAR MUSEUM (1861 TO 1871)

1052 Banning Blvd, Wilmington 90744   Tel: (310) 548-7509    

The Drum Barracks was the U.S. Army Headquarters for Southern California and Arizona Territory.  Several special Civil War events are held at this site.  Learn about the California Battalion and camel corp. connected to Fort Tejon.  The Drum Barracks are located a couple of blocks from the Banning Residence Museum on old Rancho San Pedro Dominguez Adobe.  You can easily visit all three historic sites on the same day. 

7. GENERAL PHINEAS BANNING RESIDENCE MUSEUM (1864)

401 East “M” Street, Wilmington 90744   Tel: (310) 548-7777            

Mr./General Banning developed shipping, staging and freighting empire which made the Port of Los Angeles what it is today that is why he is called "the father of the LA Harbor."  His home ("finest house on the harbor"), stagecoach barn and museum shop are located in a beautiful 20-arce park near the Drum Civil War Barracks.  General Banning bought his land from Don Manuel Dominguez.  You can visit the Dominguez adobe  on the same day since it is only 10 minute drive north of the Banning residence.  Wilmington  was originally part of Rancho San Pedro.   Banning along with Don Benito Wilson and rich friends were  instrumental in getting the first rail road service running along the Alameda Corridor (through the Dominguez homestead) in Los Angeles in 1869.  This was accomplished eight years before the Northern railroad line linked Los Angeles to San Francisco and from there the east coast.  The Banning Museum has a nice gift shop and a special Victorian Christmas celebration in December.  Read their web page for several other great year around special events.

8. HERITAGE DISCOVERY CENTER    

40222 Millstream Lane, Lumpoc and Madera, CA (559) 868-8681

This unique group of people united two living historic sites under their care:

1. La Purisima Mission and State Park – In beautiful historic Santa Barbara County near Solvang, Purisima Mission State Historic Park represents our exploration, colonization and mission period of California. It was the eleventh mission of the twenty-one Spanish Missions established in what became California. Franciscan Padre Presidente Fermin Francisco Lasuen founded Mission La Purisima Concepcion de Maria Santisima on December 8, 1787. It also aids in representing the influential Chumash culture, who’s home was the Central Coast.

This impressive interpretive center would be a significant advantage to be associated with because with their mission experience in conjunction with our Heritage Discovery Center it would create a complete revival of a time long ago.

2. Pacheco Pass – Pacheco Pass is one of the few easy passages between the coast and the great central valley. It serves as a convenient route for people of the San Joaquin valley, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz and southern Santa Clara regions. It also serves as the home for the Central Valley Yokuts tribe. This pass was a favorite haunt for the infamous Joaquin Murieta and played a huge role in the Butterfield Transcontinental Stage Line and was part of the first Overland Mail Route.  Pacheco State Park is the last remaining portion of the Mexican land grant Rancho San Luis Gonzaga.  Francisco Perez and his son Juan Pacheco were granted the property and built the first house in Merced County on this land in 1843.  This has been a working ranch since.  It also raises a large herd of colonial Spanish horses and long horn cattle.

9. HERITAGE JUNCTION HISTORIC PARK  

P.O. Box 221925,  Newhall, CA 91322-1925,  Phone: (661) 254-1275

In 1986, the Santa Clarita Valley Historic Society took a stand (literally) around the Mitchell Ranch, an Adobe and a Victorian farm house in Sulphur Springs.  As the bulldozer approached the farm house, members formed a barricade with Sulphur Springs residents and tried to stop the impending destruction.  They were unsuccessful, but as the machinery approached the adobe on the same property, Mother Nature intervened with a swarm of bees coming from within the building.  This delay allowed the Society to negotiate with the property owners and retrieve the surviving adobe bricks, removing them to a spot across from the Saugus Station.  Today, those bricks are reassembled within Heritage Junction as the Mitchell Schoolhouse Adobe, the second oldest school in Los Angeles County.  The Society's first big acquisition was the Saugus Train Station, which Southern Pacific deeded to them in 1980.  In 1982, the Society was given Mogul Steam Engine 1629, located at Melody Ranch, by Gene Autry.   1629 now sits on a siding alongside the Saugus Station; a group of Society members, who are also railroad enthusiasts, are currently working on its restoration to full steam operation.  The newly developed park is also restoring several other turn of the century buildings (workers & docents are needed for these special projects).
 

10. HERITAGE SQUARE (1865 TO 1920)     

 3800 Homer Street, Los Angeles 90031   Tel: (626)796-2898  

Best collection of Victorian East Lake buildings in the area.  Four beautifully restored homes are the 1897 Methodist Church, 1899 carriage barn, 1848 octagon house & 1887 railroad depot.  Take their informative 2 hour tour of these buildings.  Interesting period gift shop.  To get there take the Pasadena Freeway 110 (a.k.a. Arroyo Seco Freeway) and exit at Ave 43 near the Charles F. Lummis Home and Southwest Museum.   You can take the Gold Line light rail to Heritage Squire/Arroyo Station to visit this special place for $6 round trip with exchanges (20 minute walk to site from station).  A free shuttle is available to visit this site and others during the "Museums of the Arroyo Day" in May event.  On your commute to the park try stopping at Olvera Street or China Town to shop and eat.

11. HISTORIC ECHO PARK 

1300 Carroll Ave, Los Angeles Tel: (213) 250-2214

Visit a unique old neighborhood of original 1880's Anne-Eastlake Victorian-era homes located off the 110 Pasadena freeway in Echo Park.  The area is also named "Angelino Heights."  More than a dozen of these homes have been lovingly restored and a description was placed in front of them.  This is Los Angeles first of many more to come housing expansions during the 1880's land boom (railroads had just arrived).  Stop at Heritage Squire before or after you visit this time capsule of homes in our City of the Angels.  Visit these locations and others with a free shuttle during the "Museums of the Arroyo Day" in May.  Eat at nearby Olvera Street, China Town or San Antonio Winery.

12. HUNTINGTON LIBRARY & ART GALLERY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS

1151 Oxford Road, San Marino 91108    Tel: (626) 405-2141                            

An original research center with a library containing old and original manuscripts dating back to medieval times.  Walk through a beautiful world famous gardens used in many moves.  Their book store has a large collect of unique history books and period gifts.  One of the best English Tea rooms in the world (telephone in advance for their special tea luncheon (818) 584-9337).

13. INDIAN CANYON  

AGUA CALIENTE TRIBAL COUNCIL OFFICE, Palm Springs  Tel: (619) 325-5673

Fifteen miles long, Palm Canyon is one of the great beauty spots in Western North America.  Its indigenous flora and fauna, which the Cahuilla peoples so expertly used, and its abundant Washintonia Filifera (palm trees), are breathtaking contrasts to the stark, rocky gorges and barren desert lands beyond.  Located 15 minutes from downtown Palm Springs.  A great day hike that has a safe and moderate trail.  There is a little shop at the parking lot for refreshments and Native American stuff.   Open daily.

14. LA PAZ BAJA CALIFORNIA

I had the pleasure to visit a quaint little Mexican village were my grandmother Concepcion "Concita" Mendoza - Grisciotti was born in Baja California in the 1890's.  Located in the same mountain chain running down from northern California through the Baja peninsula is the village of El Triunfo (The Triumph).  This picturesque village is situated on highway #1 just 35 miles south of the coastal Capital of La Paz.

El Triunfo was a silver mining boom town and capital of Baja from 1860's to 1920's (a hundred years of mining).  My grandmother was the grandchild of the then governor of the Territory of Baja California.  She grew up on an old Spanish/Mexican Hacienda with an adobe house that I was able to visited and live in for three months in 1970. 

Both Baja California and El Triunfo are historically connected to Alta California through missions, haciendas and mining.  Baja California was almost taken with the pretense of "Manifest Destiny" by people like William Walker in 1853.  The American antebellum issue of slavery and slave states stopped the crusade to conquer northern Mexico. 

Eventually, the silver mines of El Triunfo were owned by a US company with over 10,000 people from all over the world working at this remote town (especially from China, England, France, Italy & Scotland).  Today you can take a cab for just a 45 minute drive from La Paz on a good road to see this village with an outdoor mining museum and a number of other surprises like a interesting piano museum, large church and unique native basket shop.  The outdoor mining museum has two very tall smoke stacks from the remains of the old refinery (they can be seen for miles around).  One of them is called "Ramona"  which was designed by the Frenchman Gustavo Eiffel.  As you take your short or long biotrek through the hills covered with tropical plants look for the heard of goats in the surrounding chaparral. 

You can arrive for a vacation to the tip of the California peninsula by car, plane or several new cruise ship lines like Holland America from San Diego that docks in La Paz (take the train from Fullerton to get to San Diego) or Carnival Cruise Line from San Pedro that docks at Cabo San Lucas.  The ship experience will give you the feeling of what it was like to travel through Spanish/Mexican/American Coastal California from 1542 (Cabrillo) to the 1970's.  Check out the reasonable prices for a 7 to 10 day cruise with wonderful shore excursions or make your own day trip by cab when you stop at these exotic places (all of Baja towns & villages are safe for tourists to visit on their own).

15. LOMITA RAILROAD MUSEUM (1966)

250 Street and Woodward Ave, Lomita 90717  Tel:(310) 326-6255                        

A small train museum with a lot of train history.  The museum is located in a Victorian depot were you can purchase train company patches, pins and train whistles in the depot.  A 1913 oil tank car, 1910 Union Pacific caboose and a 1902 Mogul Steam Engine surrounds the depot.  The Lomita Railroad Museum is located near the Banning Museum and Drum Barracks located on old Rancho San Pedro (just 15 minutes from CSU Dominguez Hills).

16. MELODY RANCH & COWBOY FESTIVAL (1915) 

Off the 14 freeway and Placerita Canyon Road in Newhall 91322 Tel.: (661) 259-9669

Been making cowboy movies here since 1915.  Famous cowboys such as Tom Mix, The Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger with Jay Silverheels as Tonto, Wyatt Earp, Gunsmoke, William L. Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy, Annie Oakly, Rin Tin Tin (a doggy), Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Gene Autry, John Wayne, Gary Cooper, William S. Hart and The Cisco Kid with Duncan Renaldo & Leo Carrillo.   Visit this one-of-a-kind museum on the grounds of Melody Ranch and enjoy a walk through the history of filmmaking at the Music Stage.  Visit this place for a special five day one-of-a-kind Cowboy festival in the last weekend in April.  Cowboy festival offers ongoing shows featuring western music, cowboy poetry, chuck wagon dinners, clothes, tours and storytelling by the best performers in the business.

17.  MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN WEST (formerly the Gene Autry Museum)  

 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles 90027-1462 Tel: (323) 667-2000

Located in Griffith Park.  This museum has great cowboy movies and special exhibitions.  Located across from the L. A. County Zoo.  One of the best cowboy/cowgirl book stores anywhere on this planet.  A great place for TV memories so cowboy up everyone and go see their national heroes mural located down stairs with life size drawings of: Gene Autry & Champion, Roy & Dale Rogers & Trigger, William S. Hart & Tony, Jr. and Hopalong Cassidy & Topper and many other favorites with their horses too.   Celebrate Gene's 100th birthday at the museum (read about it at: http://www.autry.com/home.php).

The museum has a small cafe that offers good chili dogs.  For a real treat try eating at the nearby Lawry's Tam O' Shanner restaurant for fine cosine with great spirits (their prime rib is world famous).

This special museum also shows movies and hosts special guest speakers in their theater.  Read their web sight for the special monthly events happening at this unique entertaining and learning museum for the whole family.

18. ORANGE EMPIRE RAILROAD MUSEUM

2201 South "A" Street, Perris    Tel: (909) 657-2605

The museum contains more than 200 steam, diesel and electric locomotives, as well as passenger and freight cars, streetcars, and other railway equipment.  Great big gift shop for train enthusiasts located in the Pinaqate (stink bug) Station.  Buildings on the 64-acre site are open on weekends.  Train rides are given on weekends as well.  Drop into this great train museum on your way to the Temecula wineries or Glen Ivy Hot Springs (1 hour from campus).  You can stop at Tom's Place to eat and shop at an interesting tourist spot.

19. PORTS OF CALL & L.A. MARITIME MUSEUM   

West end of the 110 Harbor Freeway   Tel: (310) 548-7618      

The best maritime museum in Los Angeles situated in the old terminal building with a history of it's own.  Displays and ship models of all sizes and types.  The Port of Los Angeles was originally part of Rancho San Pedro in 1784.  The Sepulveda family legally took possession of this area and called it Rancho Palos Verdes (green trees) in 1834.  Unfortunately none of their adobes exists today). 

A must for all pirates to visit on "Talk Like A Pirate Day - September 19th - arrr- www.talklikeapirate.com.  

The museum contains a great book store with special gifts for all ages.  "Ports of Call" eating and shopping area was rebuilt in 2005.  Ride a replica of the old Pacific Electric Red Car along the Port of Los Angeles.  Check their web sight for special events.

20. SAN ANTONIO WINERY & RESTAURANT (1917)

 737 Lamar Street, Los Angeles 90031  Tel: (323) 223-1401                            

An Italian gourmet adventure provided by the Riboli family.  It is the last of 100 producing wineries that once lined the Los Angeles River Basin.  Take a tour of their winery.  A great place to eat a pasta luncheon.  One of the best Christmas holiday gift shops in all of California.  Located near Heritage Square, Historic Echo Park, Olvera Street  and Southwest Museum.  Check out their web sight.

21. SAN DIEGO OLD TOWN (1769)  

Take the train from the Fullerton station for the day or week.  Visit old town San Diego many wonderful original adobes and restaurants and gift shops.   Great interpreted historical tours by docents in period outfits in most buildings dating back to the 1700's and 1800's.  A treat for all the family. 

22. SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM (1963)

136 East De La Guerra Street, Santa Barbara 93102   Tel: (805) 966-1601                          

Stop and see why the whole City of Santa Barbara is an historic site.   Try to take the scenic train trip to Santa Barbara from Union Station.

23. SOUTH PASADENA MUSEUM                                                                                                          

913 Meridan Ave  

Mission Street, South Pasadena   

South Pasadena Museum is housed in the old Meridian Iron Works building next to the Gold Line Station.  For $6 round trip with exchanges you can take the Gold Line light rail to the Mission Street Station to visit this interesting museum with a collection of newspaper articles and pictures that explains the growth of urban Los Angeles in the 1890's.  Learn about Manuel Garfias and Rancho Pascual (Easter Day Ranch).  This was also the home of General Patton and the Indiana Land Company.   Eat a meal or have a cup of coffee in the small but charming town square a few blocks from the museum.  Walk to the corner of Mission Street & Fair Oaks Ave to see the restored 1900 Fair Oaks Pharmacy & Soda Fountain (have an old fashion soda).  You can also continue your trip on the Gold Line to Old Town Pasadena for lunch.  Stop on your way north or south of the 110 Pasadena freeway (Arroyo Seco) to visit the Charles Fletcher Lummis Home, Southwest (Indian) Museum and Heritage Squire.  South Pasadena Museum is open 1 to 5 on the first and third Saturdays of the month.

24. SOUTHWEST (INDIAN) MUSEUM (1907)  

234 Museum Drive, Highland Park 90065  Tel: (323) 221-2163

The oldest museum in Los Angles with one of the largest collections of Native American art and history in the world.  The museum contains an elaborate display of clothes and tepees.  It also has a complete research center and library.  Take time to go in their unique book store.  Across form Heritage Squire and the California preservationist and writer Charles Fletcher Lummis Home (“El Alisal”) off the Arroyo Seco Freeway (a.k.a. Pasadena Freeway 110).   Book store contains a wide collect of things related to our native Americans.  Take the Gold Line to the Southwest Museum Station that stops in front of this unique museum for $6 round trip with exchange. 

25. WILL ROGERS STATE HISTORIC PARK (1920’s)

1501 Will Rogers State Park Road 
Pacific Palisades,  Tel: (310) 454-8212

Will Rogers built his 31-room ranch house on a beautiful 186-acre estate facing the ocean.  Surrounded by stables, corrals, polo field and a great hiking trail with moderate climb that gives visitors a spectacular view of the Bay of Santa Monica.  The park has something for everyone.

26. WILLIAM S. HART COUNTY PARK (1927)

Casa La Loma de Los Viento           
24151 San Fernando Road, Newhall  91321   Tel: (805) 254-4584

Considered the home of America’s first famous silent cowboy movie star (his horse was named "Tony, Jr").  William S. Hart stared in 65 silent western films.  His last movie was "Tumbleweeds" made in 1925.  The 22 room mansion "Casa La Loma de Los Viento" (house on the windy hill) houses his collection of western art, Native American artifacts and early Hollywood memorabilia.  Hart gave his "Horseshoe Ranch" to the County of Los Angeles after his death in 1946.  Look for the American Buffalo roaming the park around his home.  The park hosts several unique classical music concerts called "music in the mansion," cowboy shows and Native American powwows yearly.   Read his web site for these activities and more in the City of Newhall.

Historic Web Site Computer Search Engines

ADOBES:  http://www.laokay.com/Adobes-Historic.htm

BOOKS, ARTICLES & MAPS:  Los Angeles Central Library

CALIFORNIA HISTORIC VIEWS: http://www.caviews.com/

CALIFORNIA MISSIONS:  http://www.ca-missions.org/contact.html                                            

CALIFORNIA HISTORIC SOCIETY:  http://www.socialhistory.org/

CALIFORNIA HISTORIC TIME LINE: http://www.shgresources.com/ca/timeline/ 

CALIFORNIA RANCHOS BY COUNTY: http://www.californiaweekly.com/ca_ranchos.htm

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS:  http://www.parks.ca.gov/

HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA: BANCROFT

LIVELY ARTS HISTORY ASSOCIATION: http://www.lahacal.org/housemuseum.html  

LUPIN: HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES: http://www.ceres.ca.gov/planning/counties/Los_Angeles/history.html

CALIFORNIA RANCHO MUSICAL GROUPS: http://www.ariastroubadours.com/

SAN DIEGO HACIENDAS: http://www.sandiegohistory.org/books/pourade/silver/silverchapter4.htm

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY NATIVE AMERICANS: http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/california/gabrielinoindianhist.htm

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SPECIAL EVENTS: http://www.at-la.com/@la-evnt.htm

Suggested Readings  

I began my quest to visit the adobes of Los Angeles with my family in 1956.  In 1979 I created a list of the adobes as I visited them.  Thanks to the encouragement of Father Pat J. McPolin from the Dominguez Adobe and Dr. Judson A. Grenier from CSU Dominguez Hills, I placed this listing onto my university web site in 1988. 

To expedite the location of adobes there are a number of books that will make the search convenient and give insight to the history of each rancho.  Many of the books listed below were purchased at individual historic site bookstores and museums.  

Having a few of these books will assist you in understanding more about the founding families who lived in them.  Two exceptional books on California adobes to purchase before starting your quest are:  "Historic Adobes of Los Angeles County," by Mr. John R. Kielbasa, 1997, Dorrance Publishing Comp, Inc., 300 pages, approximate cost $25 and "California Snapshot In Time 1850," by Janice Marschner, 2000, Library of Congress (280 Pages) approximate cost $25.  

I suggest looking for these and other publications at:                                                                                                                                        

* Research libraries like the Los Angeles Central Library (take the red line there)                                                                                      

* Used bookstores                                                                                                                                                                                                

* Book stores like Vromans book store in Pasadena located at 695 East Colorado Blvd., zip 91101, telephone (626) 449-5320 (take the gold line there)

1. "An American in California," The Biology of William Heath Davis 1822-1909, by Andrew F. Rolle, The Huntington Library, 1956, (149 pages)

2. "A Scotch Paisano in Old Los Angeles," by Susana Bryant Dakins, University of California press, 1934 (305 pages)
3. "Adobe Days," by Sharah Bixby Smith, Valley Publishers, 1974, (142 pages)
4. "California's Chumash Indians," a Project of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Education Center, by John Daniel Publishers, 1986 (69 pages)         

5. "California Snapshots In Time 1850," by Janice Maeschner, Library of Congress, 2000 (280 pages)
6. "California's Spanish Place Names," by Barbara & Rudy Marenacci,Tioga Publishing Company, 1988 (208 pages)
7. "Californios," by Jo Mora," published by Dober Hills Ltd., 1994, (173 pages)
8. "California Legacy: The Watson Family," by Dr. Judson A. Grenier, Watson Land Company 1987 (504 pages)
9. "Canada de la Brea: Ghost Rancho," by Virginia L. Carpenter, Orange County Historic Society, 1978 (58 pages)

10. "Defending Eden, New Mexican Pioneers in Southern California 1830 - 1890," by Joyce Carter Vickery, The Department of History, University of California, Riverside, and Riverside Museum Press, 1977 (130 pages)
11. "Disenos of California Ranchos: Maps (disenos) of thirty seven Mexican Land Grants (1822) - 1846) from the Records of the US District Court," by Robert H. Becker 1964                                                                                                                                                    

12. "East of the Gabilans," by Marjorie Pierce, Western Tanger Press/Valley Publishers, 1976 (190 pages)
13. "Early Days of Santa Barbara," by Walter A. Hawely, Santa Barbara Heritage, 1987 (144 pages)                                                    

14. "El Molino Viejo," by Robert Glass Cleland, Old Mill Foundation, 2003 (83 pages)                                                                            

15. "El Pueblo - The Historic Heart of Los Angeles," by Bruce Poole & Tvvy Ball, The Getty Conservation Institute, 2002 (132 pages)

16. "From Mountain Man to Mayor, Don Benito Wilson, Los Angeles 1841 to 1878," by Nat B. Read, Angel City Press, 2008 (257 pages)

17. "Gateway To Alta California," by Harry W. Crosby, Sunbelt Publications, 2003 (219 pages)
18. " Historic Adobes of Los Angeles County," by John R. Kielbasa, Dorrance Publishing Comp., Inc., 1997 (300 pages)                     

19. "Historic Ranchos of San Diego," commissioned by James S. Copley, Text by Cecil Moyer, by Richard F. Pourade, Union-Tribune Publishing Company, 1976            (115 pages)                                                                                                                                                            

20. "Images of America - Old Torrance Olmsted District," by Bonnie Mae Barnard, Arcadia Publishing, 2005 (129 pages)                  

21. "Interpretation of Historic Sites," by William T. Alderson and Shirley Payne Low, 1987 (198 pages)                                                 

22. "John Rowland and William Workman Southern California Pioneers of 1841," by Donald E. Rowland, The Arthur Clark Company, 1999 (198 pages)
23. "Los Angeles From the Days of the Pueblo," by W.W. Robinson, California Historic Society, 1981 (117 pages)                              

24. "Lucky Baldwin," by C. B. Glasscock, Silver Syndicate Press, 1993 (308 pages)
25. "Pio Pico Miscellany," by Martin Cole, 1978 (106 pages)                                                                                                                   

26."Rancho Days in Southern California An Anthology With New Perspectives," by Kenneth Pauley, Brand Book, 1997 (353 pages)
27. "Rancho Los Cerritos," by Loretta Berner, published by Acoma Books, 1975 (26 pages)
28. "Rancho San Pedro," by Dr. Robert C. Gillingham, Cole-Holmquist Press, 1961 (451 pages)
29. "Recreating the Historic House Interior," by William Seale, American association for State and Local History, 1979 (249 pages)
30. "Santa Barbara's Royal Rancho," by Walker A. Tompkins, Dos Pueblos Publications, 1987 (281 pages)
31. "Southern California, An Island on the Land," by Carey McWilliams, 1946 (378 pages)
32. "Southern California’s First Railroad 1869-1873," by John W. Robinson, Omni Publications, 1978 (109 pages)
33. "The Adobe Book," by John F. O'Conner, Ancient Press, 1973 (132 pages)                                                                                          

34. "The California Missions, A Sunset Pictorial," Lane Publishing Company (319 pages)                                                                      

35. "The Cattle on a Thousand Hills," by Dr. Robert G. Cleland, Henry E. Library & Art Gallery, 1941 (338 pages)
36. "The Blond Ranchero: Memories of Juan Francisco Dana," by Rocky Dana and Marie Harrington, South County Historical Society, 1999 (135 pages)
37. " The First Angelinos," by William McCawley, A Malki Press/Ballena Press Cooperative Publication, 1996 (288 pages)              

38. "The Mexican Frontier 1821-1846; The American Southwest Under Mexico," by Dr. David J. Weber, University of New Mexico Press, 1982 (407 pages)                                                                                                                                                                            

39."The Romance of La Puente Rancho," by Leonore Rowland, printed by the Neilson Press, 1958 (68 pages)
40. "The San Fernando Valley; Past and Present," by Lawrence C. Jorgensen, Pacific Rim Research, 1982 (252 pages)
41. "The Silver Dons," Commissioned by James S. Copley, Union-Publishing Company, 1961 (248 pages)

CONCLUSION

Remember you can share your culture, talents and language by volunteering to be a docent at any of these ranch adobes listed above.  The newly renovated Dominguez Adobe in Carson is currently looking for volunteers who want to start their docent training program (check out their website above at adobe #14). Re-live history and have fun doing it at a living historic museum.  Your interest and time is all it takes to get started. 

To find out about more about a specific adobe and their special events read the many attached web page links to this wed sight.  If you would like to add information or make any suggestions to improve this listing, please contact me at Email: Djoseffini@csudh.edu or FAX (310) 516-4132.                                                      February 2010

Designed by:  Dan Joseffini