José Castro House facts for kids
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José Castro House
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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The Plaza de San Juan façade of the house
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | S side of the Plaza, San Juan Bautista, California |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1838 |
| Architect | José Antonio Castro |
| Architectural style | Monterey Colonial |
| Part of | San Juan Bautista Plaza Historic District (ID69000038) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000141 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | May 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHLDCP | April 15, 1970 |
The José Castro House (Spanish: Casa José Castro), also known as the Castro-Breen Adobe, is an old adobe home. It is located in San Juan Bautista, California. The house faces the town's main plaza.
General José Antonio Castro built this house between 1838 and 1841. He was an important leader in early California. The house is built in the Monterey Colonial style. Later, the Breen family lived here until 1933. Today, the house is a museum. It is part of the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park.
Contents
History of the Castro House
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José Antonio Castro's father, José Tiburcio Castro, was a soldier. He was also part of the government in early California. He managed Mission San Juan Bautista for a time. He helped his family and friends get land.
José Antonio Castro received land facing the Plaza de San Juan. He built his adobe house there in 1841. Castro used the house as a base for his military work. Soldiers' living quarters were right next door. He also let his secretary live in the house.
From Castro to Breen Family
In 1848, José Antonio Castro sold the house. The new owner was Patrick Breen. He was a survivor of the famous Donner Party. The Breen family lived in the house for many years. They stayed there until 1933.
That year, the house became a California Historical Landmark. The state of California bought it. It then became part of the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park.
A Museum Today
Today, the José Castro House is a house museum. It shows what home life was like in California in the mid-1800s. Visitors can see how people lived back then. The house was named a National Historic Landmark in 1970. This means it is a very important historical place in the United States.
Architecture of the House
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The José Castro House is a two-story home. It is made of adobe, which is a type of sun-dried brick. The house is built in the Monterey Colonial style. This style was popular in California in the 1800s.
The outside of the house is covered in stucco. It has long, covered porches on both the front and back. These porches are a key feature of Monterey Colonial homes.
Unique Design Features
The front door of the José Castro House has special windows. These windows have many small glass panes. This design is not typical for Monterey Colonial homes. Instead, it shows the influence of Greek Revival architecture. This style was also popular in the mid-1800s.
Today, the property includes a half-acre orchard and garden. This area is open to the public. It is part of the state historic park.
See also
In Spanish: Casa José Castro para niños
