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 an historic house located at 835 Laguna Street in the historic center of the city of Santa Barbara, California. Built in 1825, it is one of a small number of surviving adobe houses from the Mexican period of California history. It was designated a National Historic Landmark on April 15, 1970, and added to the National Register of Historic Places. The building is currently home to a bookstore, Randall House Rare Books.
Description
The Gonzalez House is located north of Santa Barbara's central business district, on the south side of Laguna Street between East Canon Perdido Street and East De La Guerra Street. It is a single-story adobe structure, with seven rooms It is built in the U-shape (with the longest part being parallel to Laguna Street) and stands on a hill, separated from both Laguna and Cañon Perdido Streets by garden walls. Its walls are up to 2 feet (0.61 m) thick, covered with lime plaster, and its long sides are sheltered by wooden verandas. When built, it had packed earth floors, which were tiled during restoration in the 1920s. The roof, now shingled, was historically covered in terra cotta tile.
History
The building was constructed in 1825 by Rafael Gonzalez, a landowner who in 1829 became an alcalde of Santa Barbara. At this time, Santa Barbara was a part of Mexican California. After his death, in 1866, the house was inherited by one of his daughters, Francisca Ventura Gonzalez de Ramires. She lived in the house until 1923, when it was sold out of the family. It has seen mainly commercial uses since then.
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.
