Vallejo Estate facts for kids
|
Vallejo Estate
|
|
 |
|
 Location in California
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Corner of Spain and West 3rd Streets, Sonoma, California |
|---|---|
| Built | 1851–1852 |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic—Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000262 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | June 29, 1972 |
The Vallejo Estate is a special historic house located in Sonoma, California. It is one of six important places that make up the Sonoma State Historic Park. This estate belonged to General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, who was a powerful military leader and landowner in California.
General Vallejo started buying the land for his home after attending an important meeting in Monterey in 1849. He moved into the house in 1852 and lived there until he passed away in 1890. He gave his home the name Lachryma Montis, which means "mountain tear" in Latin. This name was a translation of Chiucuyem, a Native American name for a natural spring on the property.
Contents
Building a Dream Home: The Vallejo Estate
General Vallejo's home was built right next to the spring and its pool between 1851 and 1852. This two-story house was made of wood. It was actually built in pieces on the east coast of the United States. Then, it was shipped all the way around Cape Horn on a sailing ship. Once it arrived, it was put together on its current spot in Sonoma.
The house was designed in a style called Victorian Carpenter Gothic. It had a large Gothic-style window in the main bedroom. There were also two porches, dormer windows (windows that stick out from the roof), and fancy carved wooden decorations along the edges of the roof.
To keep the house comfortable, bricks were placed inside the walls. This helped keep it warm in winter and cool in summer. General Vallejo also liked using adobe for insulation. He knew it worked well in California's climate.
Inside the Vallejo Home
The furniture inside the house was a mix of different styles. It showed Vallejo's Spanish and Mexican background. It also included items from the China trade and popular American styles. Each room had its own beautiful white marble fireplace. Many fancy items, like crystal chandeliers, lace curtains, and a grand rosewood piano, were brought all the way from Europe.
The estate also had other buildings besides the main house. There were pavilions, a large barn, and homes for the people who worked there. The Cook House was a three-room wooden building behind the main house. The cook lived in one room, and the other two rooms were used for preparing and cooking food.
El Delirio is a small wooden building in the garden. It was a quiet place for the Vallejo family and their guests to relax. Another special building was put up in 1852. It was used to store wine, fruit, and other farm products. The wood for this building was cut and numbered in Europe before being shipped to California. The bricks for it came as heavy cargo on sailing ships. Later, this building was turned into a home and became known as the "Swiss Chalet."
The grounds of the estate were also very beautiful. Grapevines were planted, along with many different kinds of fruit trees and decorative plants. A quarter-mile-long driveway was lined with cottonwood trees and Castilian roses. A pathway around the spring's pool was shaded by a vine-covered archway. There were also decorative fountains and charming small buildings throughout the property.
Life at the Vallejo Estate
General Vallejo and his family moved into Lachryma Montis in 1852. He and his wife lived there for over 35 years. Over time, Vallejo faced many money problems. This meant they had to live more simply. He eventually lost almost all of his huge land holdings. He even had to sell the vineyard and other parts of the estate that were not essential.
During the 1850s and 1860s, Vallejo became a leader in California's new wine industry. He planted more vineyards and was one of the first people to make wine for sale in the area. However, in the 1870s, tiny insects called Phylloxera destroyed his grapevines. This also ended Vallejo's hopes for making wine.
In 1873, he made a deal with two partners. They would supply water from the estate's pond to the people of Sonoma using redwood pipes. This gave him some regular income. In 1881, he sold a right-of-way to the Sonoma Valley Railroad. This allowed the train tracks to cross his property.
The Estate's Legacy
In 1933, the Vallejo home and about 20 acres of its original land were bought by the State of California. This was done to protect and save this important historic site. It also helped preserve the collection of old items and documents from the estate.
On June 29, 1972, the Vallejo Estate was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is also recognized as California Historical Landmark Number 4. Today, it remains an important part of the Sonoma State Historic Park.
Images for kids
-
Wine label, Lachryma Montis Vineyard, Sonoma Red Wine 1858. California Historical Society archives.
