Rafael Gonzalez House facts for kids
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Rafael Gonzalez House
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The general view of the house
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 835 Laguna Street, Santa Barbara, California |
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| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1825 |
| Architect | Rafael Gonzalez |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000149 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | April 15, 1970 |
The Rafael Gonzalez House is a very old and important house in Santa Barbara, California. You can find it at 835 Laguna Street. This house was built way back in 1825. It is special because it is one of the few adobe houses still standing from when California was part of Mexico.
On April 15, 1970, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a place that is very important to the history of the United States. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the building is home to a bookstore called Randall House Rare Books.
What Does the House Look Like?
The Gonzalez House is located just north of Santa Barbara's main downtown area. It sits on the south side of Laguna Street. This house is a single-story building made of adobe. Adobe is a natural building material made from earth and organic materials.
The house has seven rooms and is shaped like the letter "U". The longest part of the house runs parallel to Laguna Street. It stands on a small hill. Garden walls separate it from Laguna Street and Cañon Perdido Street.
The walls of the house are very thick, about 2 feet (0.6 meters) wide. They are covered with a smooth lime plaster. Long wooden porches, called verandas, protect the sides of the house. When the house was first built, its floors were made of packed earth. During a restoration in the 1920s, these floors were changed to tiles. The roof, which is now covered with shingles, used to have traditional terra cotta tiles.
The History of the House
The Rafael Gonzalez House was built in 1825. It was constructed by a man named Rafael Gonzalez. He owned a lot of land. In 1829, Rafael Gonzalez became an alcalde of Santa Barbara. An alcalde was like a mayor or a judge in a Spanish or Mexican town.
At that time, Santa Barbara was part of Mexican California. After Rafael Gonzalez passed away in 1866, his daughter, Francisca Ventura Gonzalez de Ramires, inherited the house. She lived there until 1923. That is when the house was sold outside of the family. Since then, the building has mostly been used for businesses.
Gallery
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Veranda along one wing.
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Veranda along the other wing.
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Plaque commemorating Rafael Gonzales House history.
