Centinela Adobe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Centinela Adobe
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The Centinela Adobe
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| Location | 7634 Midfield Ave Westchester, California |
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| Built | 1834 |
| Architect | Ygnacio Machado |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial-Adobe |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000522 |
| Added to NRHP | May 2, 1974 |
The Centinela Adobe, also known as La Casa de la Centinela, is a historic house built in 1834. It is made in the Spanish Colonial style using adobe bricks. Today, it is a house museum run by the Historical Society of Centinela Valley.
This adobe is one of only 43 old adobe houses still standing in Los Angeles County, California. It was once the main building of the huge 25,000-acre Rancho Aguaje de la Centinela. This rancho was a land grant from Mexico when California was still part of Mexico. It was originally part of an even larger Spanish land grant called Rancho Sausal Redondo.
The Centinela Adobe is the oldest home in the Centinela Valley area. It was built by Ygnacio Machado in 1834. Over the years, many different people lived there. These included farmers, ranchers, and even Daniel Freeman, who helped start the city of Inglewood. Because it's so old and important, it's often called the "Birthplace of Inglewood."
History of the Ranchos and Centinela Adobe
Early Land Grants in California
In 1822, Mexico won its freedom from Spain. After this, Antonio Ygnacio Avila received a Mexican land grant for a large area called Rancho Sausal Redondo. He used this land to raise cattle. This rancho covered much of what are now cities like Redondo Beach, Inglewood, and Manhattan Beach.
Ygnacio Machado and Rancho Aguaje de la Centinela
In the early 1830s, Ygnacio Machado started farming a part of the Rancho Sausal Redondo. Ygnacio was the son of one of the soldiers who helped settle Los Angeles. His brother, Augustin Machado, owned other large ranchos nearby.
Ygnacio Machado was given a part of Rancho Sausal Redondo. This new area was called the Rancho Aguaje de la Centinela, and it was about 2,220 acres. In 1834, Ygnacio built the Centinela Adobe on this land. The original house was made of adobe bricks on a stone base. Later, wooden parts were added. Ygnacio Machado didn't own the rancho for long. In 1844, he traded it for a keg of whiskey and a small house in Pueblo de Los Angeles.
Robert Burnett Buys the Rancho
The rancho was sold several times in the 1850s. In 1860, a man from Scotland named Robert Burnett bought it for $3,000. Burnett then bought the old Rancho Sausal Redondo too. By 1872, Burnett owned a huge 25,000-acre ranch. This land stretched from what is now Playa del Rey all the way to Redondo Beach.
Daniel Freeman and the Birth of Inglewood
In 1873, Robert Burnett went back to Scotland. He leased the ranch to Daniel Freeman, who had just arrived from Canada. Freeman paid $7,500 a year to rent the ranch. He also had the chance to buy it later for $150,000.
Freeman first raised sheep on the ranch and planted many trees. He planted 7,000 orange trees and 2,000 almond trees. But a drought caused 22,000 of his sheep to die. So, Freeman switched to growing barley. He eventually produced a million barrels of barley each year.
In 1885, Freeman decided to buy the ranch for $140,000 in gold. He became very rich by farming barley, olives, lemons, limes, and almonds. He named his large land holding "Inglewood," after his hometown in Canada.
In 1887, a railroad line was built to Redondo Beach. Freeman then started selling off about 11,000 acres of his land in smaller pieces. This land became the city of Inglewood. In 1888, Freeman built a large mansion in Inglewood. A year later, in 1889, he built the land office that is now next to the Centinela Adobe. Eventually, all 25,000 acres of the ranch were divided and sold. The only part of the original rancho that remains is the 1-acre site where the Centinela Adobe stands.
Centinela Adobe Museum
The Centinela Adobe Complex is considered the historical heart of the Centinela Valley. This area stretches from the Baldwin Hills to Palos Verdes.
Saving the Adobe from Being Torn Down
In the late 1940s, the adobe was almost torn down. The land around it was being divided to build new homes. But some citizens who wanted to save history raised money. They bought the property in 1950 and gave it to the City of Inglewood. The city still takes care of the adobe today through its Parks and Recreation Department.
The Centinela Adobe Complex, along with Daniel Freeman's old land office, is open for tours. These tours are led by guides who can tell you all about the history.
Visiting the Adobe Museum
The adobe has been fixed up and is now a museum. It is run by the Historical Society of the Centinela Valley and the Inglewood Department of Parks and Recreation. You can find the adobe and museum at 7634 Midfield Ave. This is a residential street right next to the 405 Freeway.
The museum is usually open on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. It's free to get in, and guides are there to give tours. If you have a group or a special event, you can call the Historical Society to arrange a tour at other times. Inside, the adobe has furniture and items from the late 1800s.
In 2001, the Los Angeles Times newspaper wrote about the museum. They said the adobe looks like it's still in the 19th century. But then you see the freeway nearby, which shows it's a "time warp." It's a peaceful old home in the middle of a modern city.
Daniel Freeman Land Office
The Freeman Land Office was built in 1887. It was used by the Centinela-Inglewood Land Company to sell plots of land for what became Inglewood. The building was first located on Florence Avenue. It has been moved twice, with the last move in 1975 to its current spot next to the adobe. The land office building is well-preserved and has many old items and photos.
Heritage and Research Center
The museum grounds also have a heritage and research center. This center opened in 1980. It holds items from Daniel Freeman's mansion, which was torn down in 1972. You can see Freeman's library, his safe, and some of his furniture. There are also articles and photos about the history of Centinela Valley.
Images for kids
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Front porch of the adobe
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The Centinela Adobe in 1889.
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Daniel Freeman's land office
See also
