Location San Jose, California Architect Manuel González CHISL # 866 Opened 1797 Added to NRHP 15 October 1973 | Built 1797 NRHP Reference # 73000454 Designated CHISL 1974 Area 1,619 m² | |
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Address 180 W St John St, San Jose, CA 95110, USA Similar History Park at Kelley Park, Downtown San Jose, Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, Kelley Park, Children's Discovery Museum | ||
Peralta adobe faro
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.
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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.
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.
Museum
The Peralta Adobe is a historic house museum, available for tours by appointment. 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. The Fallon House is across the street from the adobe, and was built in 1855 in the Victorian style.