Adobe Was California’s Building Block
Adobe structures – called adobes for short – were very common in the 1800s. Building with hand-made adobe bricks was easy and inexpensive, and the thick adobe walls provide good insulation against heat and cold.
Adobe structures included most of the California Mission buildings, as well as residences, inns, stores, and military barracks.
A large number of historically important adobes still survive today. Click the headings to sort the table; click the links to find our more about each adobe.
| Name | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Alvarado Adobe | 1830 | Monterey |
| Alvarado Adobe | replica | San Pablo |
| Anza House | 1834-38 | San Juan Bautista |
| Boronda Adobe | 1844 | Salinas |
| Branciforte Adobe | 1803 | Santa Cruz |
| Caledonia Adobe | 1835 | San Miguel |
| Casa Amesti | 1834 | Monterey |
| Casa Covarrubias | 1817 | Santa Barbara |
| Casa de la Guerra | 1818-28 | Santa Barbara |
| Casa de la Torre | 1852 | Monterey |
| Casa del Oro | 1845 | Monterey |
| Castro Adobe | 1848-50 | Watsonville |
| Castro Adobe Site | 1841 | El Cerrito |
| Castro House | 1839 | San Juan Bautista |
| Chew Kee Store | 1851 | Fiddletown |
| Cooper-Molera Adobe | 1825-30 | Monterey |
| Dallidet Adobe | 1859 | San Luis Obispo |
| Dana Adobe | 1839 | Nipomo |
| Don Fernando Pacheco Adobe | 1850s | Concord |
| Don Salvio Pacheco Adobe | 1840s | Concord |
| El Adobe de los Robles | 1856 | Lemoore |
| Estrella Adobe Church | 1878 | Paso Robles |
| Fremont Adobe | 1847 | Monterey |
| French Consulate | 1843 | Monterey |
| General Sherman’s Quarters | 1834 | Monterey |
| Groveland Hotel | 1849 | Groveland |
| Gutiérrez Adobe | 1846 | Monterey |
| Hastings Adobe | 1846 | Collinsville |
| Hill-Carrillo Adobe | 1826 | Santa Barbara |
| House of Four Winds | 1835 | Monterey |
| Ide Adobe | 1852 | Red Bluff |
| Juarez Adobe | 1845 | Napa |
| Kottinger Adobe Barn | 1852 | Pleasanton |
| Larkin House | 1835 | Monterey |
| Locke Adobe Barn | 1852 | Lockeford |
| Martinez Adobe | 1849 | Martinez |
| Merritt Adobe | 1852 | Monterey |
| Moraga Adobe | 1841 | Orinda |
| Nash Adobe | 1847 | Sonoma |
| Old Adobe Barn | 1850 | La Grange |
| Olivas Adobe | 1847-49 | Ventura |
| Oreña Adobe | 1849 | Santa Barbara |
| Peña Adobe | 1842 | Vacaville |
| Petaluma Adobe | 1836 | Petaluma |
| Plaza Hotel | 1858 | San Juan Bautista |
| Rancho Los Alamos | 1839 | Santa Barbara |
| Roberto-Suñol Adobe | 1836 | Willow Glen |
| Robert Louis Stevenson House | 1830s | Monterey |
| Sonoma Barracks | 1840 | Sonoma |
| Stokes Adobe | 1840s | Monterey |
| Stone and Kelsey Adobe Site | 1840s | Kelseyville |
| Sugg House | 1857 | Sonora |
| Sun Sub Wo Co. | 1851 | Coulterville |
| Sutter’s Fort Adobe | 1839-44 | Sacramento |
| Swift Adobe Site | 1848 | Orland |
| Swiss Hotel | 1835 | Sonoma |
| Trussell-Winchester Adobe | 1854 | Santa Barbara |
| Vallejo Adobe | 1836-46 | Sonoma |
| Vásquez House | Unknown | Monterey |
| Zanetta House / Plaza Hall | 1868 | San Juan Bautista |
