Sánchez Adobe Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Sanchez Adobe Park
|
|
 |
|
 Sánchez Adobe Park
Location in San Francisco Bay Area
Sánchez Adobe Park
Location in California
Sánchez Adobe Park
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Linda Mar Blvd., 1 mi. E of CA 1, Pacifica, California |
|---|---|
| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1785 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Adobe–Spanish Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000525 |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1976 |
The Sánchez Adobe Park is a cool place to visit in Pacifica, California. You can find it at 1000 Linda Mar Boulevard, right by San Pedro Creek. This park is about 5.5 acres big and holds the historic Sánchez Adobe building. It's so important that it's listed as a National Register Historical District and a California landmark!
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Sanchez Adobe
The land where Sánchez Adobe Park now stands has a very long and interesting history. The Sánchez Adobe building itself is a great example of Mexican-era architecture in San Mateo County. Experts have found that the site has gone through four main historical periods before San Mateo County bought it in 1947.
First People: The Ohlone Tribe
Long before anyone else, the Ramaytush group of the Ohlone people lived here. They had a village called Pruristac. You can still find signs of their village, like a shell midden (a pile of shells and other waste) near the park's ranger building.
In 1769, a Spanish explorer named Gaspar de Portolà camped nearby. His group met the villagers and wrote about hunting a grizzly bear. Later, many Ohlone people from Pruristac moved to Mission San Francisco de Asís (also called Mission Dolores). Two men from Pruristac, named Hilarion and George, even became important leaders at the Mission.
The Mission Outpost Years (1786-1834)
In 1786, the Spanish Mission in San Francisco set up an outpost here. It was called San Pedro y San Pablo Asistencia. This outpost helped with missionary work and farming to support the main Mission. It had a granary (for storing grain), a chapel, and other rooms around a central area.
At first, they grew crops like wheat, corn, beans, and fruits. But after a few years, farming stopped, and the outpost focused on raising cattle. The outpost was closed in 1834 when the California Mission system was changed.
The Mexican Rancho Period (1839-1848)
Later, a man named Francisco Sánchez, who was a leader in San Francisco, received a large land grant from the Mexican government. This land became known as Rancho San Pedro (Sanchez).
Francisco Sánchez built his adobe home on this land, right where the old Mission outpost used to be. He started building in 1842 and finished in 1846. Many people think he might have even used some bricks from the old outpost to build his new home!
The American/Kirkpatrick Period (1871-1946)
In 1871, Edward Kirkpatrick bought the property. He made big changes to the Adobe in the late 1880s, making it much larger with twenty rooms. Over the years, the Adobe was used for many things. It was a hotel called the Adobe House, and during the time of Prohibition (when alcohol was illegal), it was even a secret bar called a speakeasy. Before the county bought it, the Adobe was used as a farm building for growing artichokes in the 1940s.
Modern Times at the Park
San Mateo County bought the Sánchez Adobe and the surrounding land in 1947. They worked hard to restore the Adobe, finishing the main repairs in 1953. They also built other buildings in the park. In 2002, the Adobe got a new roof as part of more restoration work.
Today, the City of Pacifica celebrates the area's history with an event called Rancho Days every September. It includes music, historical reenactments, and food. In 2019, the park also held its first "Ohlone Day" to honor the first people who lived there. A new visitor center also opened that day.
The San Mateo County History Museum now runs the Sánchez Adobe as a historic house museum. You can visit for free to explore the home, see old items found during digs, and learn about life on a California rancho.
Images for kids
-
The outside of the Sánchez Adobe building.
More to Explore
- California Historical Landmarks in San Mateo County
- Mission Dolores Outpost
- Mission San Francisco de Asís
