City of Ventura Historic Landmarks and Districts facts for kids

The City of Ventura Historic Landmarks and Districts are special places, buildings, and neighborhoods in Ventura, California, that the city has decided are important to protect because of their history. Think of them like treasures that tell the story of Ventura!

The very first six places were chosen as Ventura Historic Landmarks (VHL) in February 1974. These included the Olivas Adobe, a historic home; the Ortega Adobe, another old adobe house; the Father Serra statue, a statue of a famous historical figure; Ventura City Hall, the city's government building; the Grant Park cross site, where a cross has stood for many years; and the Mission Plaza archeological site, a place where old things from the past are found.

Later in 1974, more landmarks were added, like the Conklin residence, the Mission San Buenaventura (a very old church), and some big, beautiful trees like the Mission's Norfolk pine trees and Moreton Bay fig trees.

By April 2018, Ventura had chosen 111 historic landmarks and five special historic districts. A historic district is an area with many historic buildings close together. The first one was the Mission Historic District, which is the oldest part of downtown Ventura and includes many landmarks like the Mission itself and China Alley.

You can see where these historic places are on a map by looking at the template to the right and clicking "OpenStreetMap" or "Google Maps."

Ventura's Historic Landmarks

Here are some of Ventura's cool historic landmarks:

Name	Image	Description
Olivas Adobe		This one-story adobe house was built in 1837 and made bigger in 1849. It's now a museum where you can learn about its history.
Ortega Adobe		This adobe building was first built in 1857. Its roof even used tiles from the Mission after an earthquake in 1857! It was the first home of the Ortega chili company and is open for tours.
Father Serra statue		This concrete statue of Junípero Serra stands in front of Ventura City Hall. It was made as part of a government art project.
Ventura City Hall		This grand building was built in 1912 as a courthouse and became Ventura City Hall in 1972. It has cool terra cotta decorations and a copper dome.
Grant Park cross site		This site in Grant Park has had a cross for many years, possibly since 1782! The cross has been replaced several times over the centuries.
Mission Plaza archeological site		This is an archaeological site near the Mission San Buenaventura. It's a place where old artifacts and remains from the past are found, helping us learn about early Ventura.
Conklin residence		This Cape Cod style house was built in 1877 and is part of the Mitchell Block Historic District.
Mission Norfolk Pines		These tall Norfolk Island pine trees were planted next to the Mission in the 1880s. They are even lit up during Christmas!
Mission San Buenaventura		This is the ninth Spanish mission built in California, started in 1782 by Father Junípero Serra. It's a very important historical church.
Plaza Park Moreton Bay Fig Tree		This huge Moreton Bay fig tree was planted in 1874 and is 68 feet high with branches spreading 130 feet wide!
Mission Plaza Moreton Bay Fig Tree		Another large Moreton Bay fig tree from around 1874, located in the Mission district.
Ventura Pier		This wooden pier was first built in 1872. It was once the longest wooden pier in California! It has been damaged and rebuilt many times over the years.
Ventura Theatre		This beautiful movie palace was built in 1928 and is now a popular place for live music concerts.
Peirano Store		This red brick building from 1877 is the city's oldest surviving brick structure. The Peirano family ran a general store and grocery here for over 100 years!
San Buenaventura Mission Aqueduct		This seven-mile-long aqueduct was built starting in 1792 to bring water to the Mission and local farms. It's an amazing example of early engineering.
Dudley House		This Victorian farmhouse from 1892 is now used for events and is run by a local heritage group.
Pierpont Inn		This American Craftsman style inn was built in 1910 for people traveling by car. It's a lovely historic place to stay.
WWII artillery emplacements		These artillery sites were built in 1942 during World War II after a Japanese submarine attacked a nearby oil field. They are located near the Ventura River.
China Alley Historic Area		This area was the center of Chinese settlement and businesses in Ventura starting in the early 1880s. It's an important part of the city's cultural history.

Ventura's Historic Districts

Historic districts are areas that have many historic buildings and a special historical feel. Ventura has five of these:

Name	Image	What it includes	Description
Mission Historic District		The area around Mission San Buenaventura	This is the oldest part of downtown Ventura and has more than 10 historic landmarks.
Mitchell Block Historic District		Plaza Park and houses on Thompson Boulevard	This district includes Plaza Park and a block of historic homes that are still very much like they were in the past.
Selwyn Shaw Historic District		A city block northwest of downtown	This block includes three historic landmarks: the Selwyn Shaw House, Suyter House, and Bert Shaw House.
Simpson Tract Historic District		Four city blocks west of Ventura Avenue	This district has 182 homes built between 1925 and 1930. They provided affordable housing for workers during the city's oil boom.
Ivy Lawn Cemetery Historic District		5400 Valentine Rd.	This cemetery was named a historic district in 2013 because of its architecture and because many important historical people are buried there.

Other Special Historic Places

Old Mission Reservoir

Some other Ventura sites have also received special historic designations:

• Thomas Gould Jr. House: This American Craftsman style bungalow, built in 1924, was designed by Henry Greene, a very famous architect.
• Old Mission Reservoir: This was part of the water system for Mission San Buenaventura. It was a settling tank that helped provide water to the Mission.
• Santa Gertrudis Asistencia (Chapel) Monument: This monument marks the site of a chapel built in 1809. Its remains were moved in 1968 to create this monument.
• Five Trees: These five blue gum eucalyptus trees on a hilltop overlooking Ventura were planted in 1898. Even though many were cut down over the years, replacements were planted to keep the landmark alive.