Rancho Guajome Adobe facts for kids
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Rancho Guajome Adobe
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 Location in San Diego County, California
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | Vista, Southern California |
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| Area | 158 acres (64 ha) (landmarked area) |
| Built | 1852–1853 |
| Architectural style | Spanish—Mexican Colonial adobe |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000145 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | April 15, 1970 |
Rancho Guajome Adobe is a really old house, built way back in the 1850s! It's a special kind of large estate called a hacienda from the 1800s. Today, it's a historic house museum located in Rancho Guajome Adobe County Park in Vista, which is in San Diego County, California.
This amazing building was constructed between 1852 and 1853. It's a great example of Spanish-Mexican colonial architecture, showing how buildings looked during that time. Because it's so important, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1970. It's also recognized as a California Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Exploring Rancho Guajome Adobe
Rancho Guajome Adobe is found in the northwest part of Vista. It sits on the south side of North Santa Fe Avenue. The adobe complex includes the main house and several other buildings around it.
The Main House
The main house is very large, with 20 rooms! It's built in the Spanish Colonial style. It has two courtyards, which are open areas inside the house. There's also a covered walkway called an arcaded veranda. The arches on this veranda were added later, in the 1920s. This was when styles like Mission and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture were very popular.
Other Buildings
Around the main house, you can find other important buildings. These include stables for horses, a blacksmith shop where metal items were made, a small chapel for worship, and a carriage house for storing carriages.
The History of Rancho Guajome
The adobe house was built in 1852. It served as the main building for Rancho Guajome, which was a large piece of land given by the Mexican government.
A Special Wedding Gift
The rancho was a wedding gift from Abel Stearns to Ysidora Bandini. Ysidora was the sister of Abel's wife, Arcadia. Ysidora married Lieutenant Cave Johnson Couts in 1851. The house was built using money earned from a cattle boom in the 1850s. During this time, many California ranchos sold meat and leather to the Gold Rush miners and new American settlers.
Building the Rancho
In 1853, Couts was put in charge of helping the native Luiseño people. These were the local Mission Indians from the San Luis Rey area. He used their help to improve his properties, including Rancho Guajome. He also worked on nearby Rancho Buena Vista and Rancho Vallecitos de San Marcos.
Changing Hands
Over time, the rancho left the Couts family. It eventually went to Mrs. Ida Kunzell Richardson and her two children, Belda and Earl. Ida, Belda, and Earl Richardson moved into the Rancho Guajome Adobe sometime in the 1920s. They lived with Cave Couts, Jr. until he passed away in 1943.
Cave Johnson Couts III, who was Cave Johnson Couts, Jr.'s son, died in 1948. This meant that Ida Richardson and her children had the right to live on the ranch for the rest of their lives. This was part of Cave Couts, Jr.'s will, as a thank you for Ida's loyal service as his housekeeper and companion.
Becoming a Park
Ida Richardson's son, Earl "Sonny" Richardson, managed the ranch for many years. In 1973, the County of San Diego bought the property for over $1,000,000. Starting in the 1970s, the county began a big project to fix up the property. This work was finished in 1996.
Today, Rancho Guajome Adobe is the main attraction of a county park that is 112 acres (45 ha) in size. Visitors can take guided tours or explore on their own. The park also offers facilities for special events.
See also
In Spanish: Rancho Guajome para niños
