Nicholas Carriger Estate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Nicholas Carriger Estate
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 18880 Carriger Rd., Sonoma, California, United States |
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| Built | 1847 |
| Architectural style | Greek revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001234 |
| Added to NRHP | November 16, 2001 |
The Nicholas Carriger Estate is a historic property in Sonoma, California. It covers about 16 acres and includes several old buildings. The main house was built in 1847. There is also a smaller house, a winery, and another unique stone building. This estate is special because of its history and architecture.
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A Look at the Nicholas Carriger Estate
The Nicholas Carriger Estate is a group of historic buildings. It is located in the beautiful area of Sonoma, California. The estate has three main buildings. These include the large main house, a smaller house, and an old winery.
The main house was built in 1847. The small house was built later, in 1860. It looks like a smaller version of the main house. Both of these homes are built in the Greek Revival style. This means they look like ancient Greek temples.
There is also a small building made of "candy rock" stone. This stone was found nearby. People think this building might have been used as an ice house. A natural spring called Yulupa Spring is also on the property. It has always provided water to the houses. You can still see it flowing today.
The Estate's Special History
The Nicholas Carriger Estate is very important historically. In 1979, it was named a Sonoma County Historic Landmark. This means it is a protected site because of its history. Later, in 2001, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places across the United States that are important to history.
Who Was Nicholas Carriger?
Nicholas Carriger was an early settler in California. He traveled west with his family to start a new life. When he arrived, he was welcomed by Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. Vallejo was a very important person in California at that time. Nicholas and Vallejo became good friends for life.
Carriger chose his land carefully. He liked the beautiful scenery and how well the land drained water. He bought 1,000 acres from Vallejo. This land became his famous estate.
Building the Estate
Nicholas Carriger was a pioneer in the Sonoma Valley. He was possibly the first American to grow wine grapes in this area. He also raised cattle on his property. He bought these cattle from his friend, Vallejo.
Carriger left his estate for a short time to join the California Gold Rush. He was very successful in finding gold. After making his fortune, he returned home. He then finished building his main house in 1850.
In 1875, he started building his winery. He held a big party to celebrate. During the celebration, he laid the first stone, called a cornerstone. He also placed a box inside the cornerstone. This box held personal items about his family and Sonoma.
Nicholas Carriger passed away in 1885 at his home. He is buried with his family and other important Sonoma pioneers. They rest at the Mountain Cemetery in Sonoma, California. After his wife, Mary Ann Wardlow Carriger, died in 1891, the estate stayed in the family. Eventually, his daughter, Levisa Carriger Lewis, sold the property.
