Covarrubias Adobe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Covarrubias Adobe |
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Covarrubias Adobe
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| Location | Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California |
| Official name: Covarrubias Adobe | |
| Designated | September 12, 1939 |
| Reference no. | 308 |
The Covarrubias adobe is a really old and important house in Santa Barbara, California. It's one of the oldest buildings there, built way back in 1817! This special house is recognized as a California Historical Landmark, which means it's a protected historical place. It's also a landmark for the city of Santa Barbara. You can find it at 715 Santa Barbara Street. The house has an L-shape and four rooms. It used to have a traditional Spanish tile roof, but that was changed later on.
Contents
A Look Back: The Covarrubias Adobe's Story
Building the Adobe: Early Days
A man named Don Domingo Carrillo had this house built in 1817. He used the help of local Chumash Indians to construct it. Don Domingo built the house for his wife, Concepción Pico Carrillo. They got married in 1810. Concepción was the sister of Pío Pico, who was the last governor of Alta California. A governor is like the leader of a state or territory.
In the 1830s, Domingo Carrillo was a leader at the Santa Barbara Presidio. A presidio was a fort built by Spain to protect its missions. Spain built the Santa Barbara Presidio in 1782.
The Covarrubias Family Home
The adobe house is named after a later owner, José María Covarrubias. He married Domingo Carrillo's daughter, María, in 1834. After Domingo Carrillo passed away in 1837, his wife Concepción continued to live in the adobe.
José María Covarrubias came from France to California in 1834. He became a private secretary for Pío Pico in 1845. In 1849, Covarrubias was chosen as a delegate for the California Constitutional Convention. This was a big meeting to create California's first laws. From 1849 to 1862, Covarrubias was a member of the California State Assembly. The Assembly is a group of people who make laws for the state. Later, he became a Judge.
The Covarrubias family owned and lived in the home for many years, until 1910.
New Owners and New Uses
After the Covarrubias family, the house was sold a few times. In 1920, a historian and author named John Southworth bought it. He wrote history books about places like Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.
John Southworth fixed up the old house. He also bought another historic adobe, built in 1825, and moved it close to the Covarrubias adobe. This second adobe was too old to be a home, so Southworth turned it into an antique shop. In 1936, he rented both houses out to be a restaurant and nightclub.
In 1938, a riding club called Los Rancheros Visitadores bought the house for $15,000. The club worked to rebuild and strengthen the house in 1940. Over the years, the adobe was used for many different things. During World War II, it helped the British War Relief Society. It was also a Chamber of Commerce office and an office for the Santa Barbara National Horse and Flower Show.
The Adobe Today
In 1964, the Santa Barbara Historical Society bought both the Covarrubias adobe and the nearby historic adobe. Today, part of the house is used as an office for the Society's Docent Council. Docents are like guides who teach people about history. The adobe is also used for many community activities.
The California State Historical Landmark sign for the Covarrubias Adobe says: NO. 308 COVARRUBIAS ADOBE - This adobe was built by Indian labor in 1817 for Don Domingo Carrillo. In 1838, his daughter married Don José María Covarrubias. He became California's first federal elector in 1852. Descendants of these families, many of whom were important leaders, lived in this house for over 100 years. John R. Southworth moved and rebuilt the 'Historic Adobe' here in 1924 to help save historical buildings. Los Adobes de los Rancheros bought the property in 1938. It became the headquarters for Los Rancheros Visitadores and a place for everyone to enjoy.
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