Peralta Adobe

Peralta Adobe

Peralta Adobe
Location San Jose, California
Coordinates 37°20′11.05″N 121°53′41.11″W / 37.3364028°N 121.8947528°W / 37.3364028; -121.8947528Coordinates: 37°20′11.05″N 121°53′41.11″W / 37.3364028°N 121.8947528°W / 37.3364028; -121.8947528
Built 1797
Architect Manuel González
NRHP Reference # 73000454 [2]
CHISL # 866[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP October 15, 1973
Designated CHISL 1974

The Peralta Adobe is the oldest building in San Jose, northern California. The adobe was built in 1797, and is named after Luis María Peralta, its most famous resident. The original builder was probably Manuel González.

History

Manuel González, his wife, and their five children accompanied the Spanish Anza Party to California in 1776. He was one of the founders of the Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe, the first municipal government in California, established in 1777. This was the second house that González lived in, the first site was untenable due to winter flooding.

In 1804 González died and the adobe went to Luís María Peralta. Peralta was a sergeant in the Spanish Army, commissioner of the Pueblo of San José, and owner of Rancho San Antonio of the East Bay, one of the largest ranchos in Alta California.

The California Historical Landmark plaque at the Peralta Adobe.

Purchased by the City of San Jose in 1966, the adobe building was restored, and the surrounding park completed in 1976. The Peralta Adobe is San Jose's Historic Landmark #1, California Historical Landmark #866, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, the adobe was the first site certified as a component of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.[3]

Museum

The Peralta Adobe is a historic house museum, available for tours by appointment.[4] The building covers an area of 20 feet by 41 feet (6 x 12.4 m), and has two connecting rooms of approximately equal size. The walls are about 2 feet (61 cm) thick, and made of adobe blocks that are 22 inches by 11 inches by 4 inches (56 x 28 x 10 cm). The adobe is furnished inside as it would have been 200 years ago. Outside is an outdoor fireplace oven (horno).

The adobe and the Thomas and Carmel Fallon House are within The Peralta Adobe & Fallon House Historic Site, on San Pedro Square in downtown San Jose, operated by the local nonprofit History San José.[4] The Fallon House is across the street from the adobe, and was built in 1855 in the Victorian style.

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 "Peralta Adobe". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  2. ↑ National Park Service (2006-03-15). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  3. ↑ NPS: Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
  4. 1 2 History San José (nonprofit)

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Park Service.

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