Carrillo House facts for kids
The Carrillo House was a very old and important house in Los Angeles, California. It was a famous building that stood where the Pico House is today.
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History of the Carrillo House
The story of the Carrillo House began on June 21, 1821. A man named José Antonio Carrillo asked for a piece of land to build a house. He wanted it near a new church being built in Los Angeles.
The very next day, he was given a large piece of land. It was about 114 feet by 170 feet. This was a rare event, as land grants were very uncommon back then.
Building the house started in 1822 and finished in 1825. When it was done, the Carrillo House was the fanciest and most important home in the old town of Pueblo de Los Ángeles.
A Center for Fun and Politics
The Carrillo House was a busy place! José Antonio Carrillo was a politician and loved to entertain. Many parties and important political talks happened there.
The house had a big ballroom famous for its dances. In 1834, Pío Pico, who was Carrillo's brother-in-law, got married there. The celebration lasted for eight days!
Carrillo and his family lived in the house for about 40 years. But after Carrillo passed away in 1862, the house was left empty.
From Carrillo House to Pico House
A few years later, in 1869, Pío Pico bought the old Carrillo House. He decided to tear it down. In its place, he built a new building called the Pico House. This new building was a hotel made of brick and stucco. It opened its doors on June 19, 1871.
Architecture of the Carrillo House
The Carrillo House was an adobe building, which means it was made from sun-dried earth bricks. It faced the main town square, known as the plaza.
Unique Design Features
The house had wings that stretched back towards Main Street. From the back, these wings connected to an adobe wall. This design created a private courtyard or patio in the middle.
Even though it was only a one-story building, it looked much taller. This was because it had a high, pointed roof made of red tiles. Its bright white walls stood out against the usual clay-colored homes with flat roofs nearby.
