Moraga Adobe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Moraga Adobe
|
|
.jpg) |
|
 Location in California
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 24 Adobe Lane, Orinda, California |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Architect | Joaquin Moraga |
| Architectural style | Mud Adobe |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000223 |
| Added to NRHP | March 16, 1972 |
The Moraga Adobe is a very old house located at 24 Adobe Lane in Orinda, California. It was built by Don Joaquin Moraga in 1841. This makes it the oldest adobe house still standing in Contra Costa County, California. An adobe house is made from sun-dried mud bricks. This special home has a long history, connected to early Spanish explorers in California.
Contents
Discovering the Moraga Adobe
Who Built This Historic Home?
The Moraga Adobe was built by Don Joaquin Moraga. He was the grandson of Jose Joaquin Moraga. Jose Joaquin was an early Spanish explorer in California. He even helped found the city of San Jose, California.
In 1835, Mexico gave a large piece of land to Joaquin Moraga. This land was called El Rancho Laguna de los Palos Colorados. It was about 13,326 acres (5,393 hectares). Joaquin shared this land with his cousin, Juan Bernal.
A Look Inside the Adobe's Past
Six years after getting the land, in 1841, Joaquin built the Moraga Adobe. This house is special because it is the oldest of only five adobe houses left in Contra Costa County. The house sits on a small hill. It is in the middle of a 20-acre property. This land is what remains of the original large land grant.
The house has been fixed up and changed twice. The first time was in 1941. Katharine Brown White Irvine bought the adobe. She added three bedrooms and a porch. She also covered the adobe walls. The house was changed again in 1964. It became part of a private home.
The Adobe Today: A Hidden Treasure
Today, the Moraga Adobe is owned by a private family. It is not open for people to visit. Fences surround the property. However, it was photographed in 1922 for a project called the Historical American Building Survey (HABS). This survey helps record important old buildings.
The original part of the adobe and the newer additions are not in perfect shape. But the building seems strong. New owners recently bought the land around the house. They have put boards over the windows. This helps protect the house from damage or people going inside without permission.
The City of Orinda and the State of California have named the Moraga Adobe a Historical Landmark. This means it is an important part of history.
Saving History: The Future of the Adobe
There is a plan to buy the Moraga Adobe property. The goal is to fix the house back to how it looked in 1848. If this happens, the house could become a museum. It could also be a place for learning about history.
