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 History | Adobes - Historic |
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Many of our California adobes have been restored and are now museums like the beautiful Andres Pico Adobe in Mission Hills.
Some adobes are privately owned and may be viewed from the outside. Their addresses have been included for historical completeness but please do not disturb the occupants.
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| Camulos (1) | Oak Canyon (2) | Ojai (1) | Oxnard (1) | ||||
| Piru (1) | Saticoy (1) | Simi Valley (1) | Unknown (1) | ||||
| Ventura (4) |
Camulos Adobe Est. 1853 National Register 
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California State Historic Landmark 553
| Located on the south side of Highway 126, just west of Piru (about 30 miles east of Ventura). Built in the 1860s by Don Antonio Del Valle on his Rancho Temescal, which was part of his original Rancho San Francisco. Author, Helen Hunt Jackson visited here in 1881 and the settings at Camulos inspired portions of her novel, Ramona. The adobe remained in the Del Valle family until 1924. The museum is open Wednesdays and Saturdays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. |
5164 East Telegraph Road, Camulos, CA Map
805 521-1501
Adobes - Historic - Oak Canyon
Lechler Adobe (Honey House) Est. 1876
Second Lechler Adobe Est. 1881
Lopez Adobe Est. abt 1830
Sanchez Adobe Est. 1838
Spanish Colonial Revial Est. 1920 National Register
Located somewhere near Oak Canyon Road and Lechler Canyon Road, just southeast of Lake Piru. Built in 1876 by George Washington Lechler as a honey extract house. It is a two-story adobe built on the side of a mountain upon several acres of land that
used to be part of the Rancho Temescal. Lechler's son, William Wallace Lechler, converted the honey house into a honeymoon cottage upon his marriage. It may be accessed by Hasley Canyon or Piru Canyon Roads. The adobe is still owned by the Lechler family
and is a private residence - not open to the public. John R. Kielbasa
Located somewhere near Oak Canyon Road and Lechler Canyon Road, just southeast of Lake Piru. It is located in an oak grove about 100 yards from the Lechler's Honey House Adobe. The adobe was built with rammed earth walls in 1881 by the Lechlers when
their honey house proved to be too small for their growing family. This adobe is still in the ownership of the Lechler family and is still in use as a private residence - not open to the public. John R. Kielbasa
On McCaleb Ranch, on the west side of Highway 33 about 2 ½ miles northwest of Ojai. Rafael Lopez built the adobe around 1830 on the Lower Ojai Rancho. Lopez was a soldier stationed at the Santa Barbara Presidio. The adobe was often referred to as the
"Barracks" as men were stationed here to protect the remote Lower Ojai Valley from marauding Tulare Indians and to establish a military presence among the Matilija Chumash Indians. The house remained in the Lopez family until 1925, when it was sold to
Herbert and Louise McCaleb. It is the oldest continually inhabited adobe in the county. It is a private residence. John R. Kielbasa
Just east of El Rio, it is on the east side of Los Angeles Avenue (Highway 118) at the end of Rose Avenue. The adobe is far back in the midst of tall eucalyptus trees, dotted with decade-old palms and pines, at the foot of the western end of South
Mountain. It was built in 1838 by Juan Maria Sanchez, who was the grantee of the 13, 989 acre Rancho Santa Clara del Norte in 1837. The rancho property ran approximately from the Santa Clara River south to the northern edge of present day Camarillo, and
from the present day 101 Freeway east to South Mountain. Rose Avenue, which was called Ditch Road until 1963, used to have eucalyptus trees on both sides of the roadway and originally led up to the Sanchez Adobe. In 1900, a second story was added to the
original structure. This adobe is a private residence owned by the Lloyd-Butler Estate, home of James and Cynthia Lloyd-Butler. F.D. Redding
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California State Historic Landmark 553
| On the grounds of the Rancho Camulos Museum. Plans are to restore the building and turn it into a visitors center and roadside rest stop. |
P.O. Box 369, Piru, CA 93040 Map
805 521-1501
Edwards Adobe Est. 1860
Adobes - Historic - Simi Valley
Rancho Simi Adobe Est. 1795 Museum
This two story was built in 1860 by D.W. Hobson as a rancho house for Thomas W. More on the Rancho Sespe. More was murdered by squatters during a land feud in 1877. The adobe was purchased by Sam Edwards. The Edwards family still owns the place. The
adobe walls are now covered with whitewashed redwood clapboard siding. Also called the Old Orchard Place, the adobe is a private residence and not open to the public. John R. Kielbasa
Tours National Register more photos...
California State Historic Landmark 979
| It was possibly built in the 1790s by the Pico Family. It was acquired by Jose de la Guerra y Noriega in the 1820s. It was situated on the Rancho Simi, which was one of California's largest ranchos at over 113, 000 acres. It was partially burned down during an Indian raid in 1820. Docent guided tours Saturday and Monday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday 1 p.m. only. |
137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley, CA 93065 Map
805 526-6453
Reyes Adobe Est. 1840s
Mission San Buenaventura Est. 1782
On the south side of Lockwood Valley Road east of Highway 33. This is in Ventura County's backcountry in the Los Padres National Forest and situated north of Reyes Peak. Built in the 1840s it is now a private residence. John R. Kielbasa
California State Historic Landmark 310
| The ninth of the twenty-one California Missions was founded March 31, 1782 by Father Junipero Serra |
211 East Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001 Map
805 648-4496
Olivas Adobe Est. 1847 Tours National Register
California State Historic Landmark 115
| Built in 1847 by Don Raymundo Olivas on Rancho San Miguel. It was robbed by bandits in 1855 and the gold has never been recovered. It is open free of charge for tours on the weekend and the grounds are open daily. Historic Rose & Herb garden on site. Concert music programs offered every Sat. night in July and August. | 
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4200 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura, CA 93003 Map
805 644-4346
The Ortega Adobe Est. 1857 Tours
| Built in 1857 by Miguel Emigdio Ortega. Built from materials from an older adobe from Rancho Sespe near today's Fillmore. Half of the house was washed away in the Flood of 1861-62, when the San Buenaventura River swelled beyond its banks. The adobe is said to be the birthplace of the Ortega Chile Company. It is currently owned by the city of Ventura and open to the public Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | 
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215 W. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001 Map
805 658-4726
Santa Ana Rancho Adobe (or Jose Arnaz Adobe) Est. 1850s
Further Reading
Adobe Days by Sarah Bixby Smith ISBN 0-8032-9178-7
This adobe is about 9 miles north of the City of Ventura, just east of Highway 33 on Old Creek Road. Built in the late 1850s by Don Jose Arnaz, who was the grantee of Rancho Santa Ana. Lucille Ball stated her former husband Desi Arnaz was a
descendant of Don Jose Arnaz. The two story adobe was used as a stagecoach stop and was called the Halfway House. It is now a private residence. John R. Kielbasa
Architecture in Los Angeles: A Compleat Guide by David Gebhard ASIN: 087905087X
California 1850: A Snapshot in Time by Janice Marschner ISBN: 0967706947
Casas & Courtyards: Historic Adobe Houses of California by Helen S. Giffen
Historic Adobes of Los Angeles County by John R. Kielbasa ISBN: 0-8059-4172-X
Historic Spots in California by Mildred Brooke Hoover ISBN: 0804717346
Los Angeles County Historical Directory by Janet I. Atkinson
Mailbu, A Nature Story by Vance Joseph Hoyt
The Rancho San Pedro by Robert C. Gillingham
Sixty Years in Southern California 1853-1913 by Harris Newmark
Many thanks to my 4th grade teacher Mrs. Mary Yates for giving me an appreciation of early California history.
Related Links
California Mission Studies Association
Haciendas in Los Angeles by Dan A. Joseffini