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 very old and important house in Santa Barbara, California. It was built way back in 1817, making it one of the oldest homes in the city! This special house is recognized as a California Historical Landmark (number 308). 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 with four rooms. Its original Spanish tile roof was changed later on.
A Look Back: Who Built the Covarrubias Adobe?
The Covarrubias Adobe was built by Don Domingo Carrillo in 1817. He used the help of local Chumash Indians to construct the house. Don Domingo built this home for his wife, Concepción Pico Carrillo. Concepción was the sister of Pío Pico, who was the very last governor of Alta California (which is what California was called before it became a U.S. state).
In the 1830s, Domingo Carrillo was an important leader at the Presidio of Santa Barbara. A presidio was like a fort built by Spain. The Santa Barbara Presidio was built in 1782 to protect the Spanish missions in a region called New Spain.
The adobe house is named after 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 Pío Pico's private secretary in 1845.
José María Covarrubias was also a very active politician. In 1849, he was part of the group that created California's first constitution. From 1849 to 1862, he served as a member of the California State Assembly. This is like being a representative in the state government. After that, he became a Judge.
Who Lived Here? The Covarrubias Family and Beyond
The Covarrubias family owned and lived in the home for a long time, until 1910. After that, the house was sold a few times. In 1920, a historian named John Southworth bought the house. He was famous for writing history books about places like Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.
John Southworth made sure the house got the repairs it needed. He also bought another old adobe house, built in 1825, and moved it close to the Covarrubias Adobe. This second house was too old to be a home, so Southworth turned it into an antique shop. Later, in 1936, he rented both houses out as a restaurant and nightclub.
In 1938, a riding club called Los Adobes de los Rancheros bought the house for $15,000. The club worked to rebuild and strengthen the house in 1940. Over the years, the house was used for many different things. During World War II, it was used by the British War Relief Society. It also served as a Chamber of Commerce office and an office for the Santa Barbara National Horse and Flower Show.
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. The adobe is also used for many community activities and events.
What Makes It a Landmark?
The official California State Historical Landmark plaque for the Covarrubias Adobe reads:
- NO. 308 COVARRUBIAS ADOBE - The adobe was built by Indian labor in 1817 for Don Domingo Carrillo. In 1838, his daughter married Don José María Covarrubias, who in 1852 became the first federal elector from California. Descendants of these families, many of them leaders in public affairs, occupied this house for over a century. John R. Southworth moved and rebuilt the 'Historic Adobe' here in 1924 as part of a civic program of historic preservation. Los Adobes de los Rancheros acquired the property in 1938 as headquarters for Los Rancheros Visitadores and for the use and enjoyment of the people.
