El Molino Viejo
Also known as: Old Mill
Why it's listed
El Molino Viejo, also called the Old Mill, is a two-story grist mill about two miles north of Mission San Gabriel, at 1120 Old Mill Road in San Marino. Mission Indians built it under the supervision of the Majordomo, finishing it about 1816 in the Spanish tradition. The lower walls, five feet thick, are quarried volcanic stone with corner buttresses, while the upper walls are handmade adobe brick under a clay tile roof. Father Zalvidea designed it and pioneered a horizontal, direct impulse waterwheel, fed by a cement-lined ditch from Kewan and Los Robles Canyons and a cistern along the west wall. Once another mill was built nearer the mission, this one was gradually abandoned and passed from mission control. Later owners, including Henry E. Huntington, restored and converted it into a residence without structural changes to the original walls. It is now owned by the City of San Marino and is recognized for its architecture, industry and commerce.
Significance in brief: The mill was designed by Father Zalvidea, who pioneered a horizontal, direct impulse waterwheel, and was built by Mission Indians in the Spanish tradition. It is recognized for its architecture, industry and commerce, and is tied to Mission San Gabriel and later owners such as Henry E. Huntington. The nomination rates its significance at the local level.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000154, listed May 6, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1120 Old Mill Rd., Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | May 6, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000154 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1816 (19th Century) |
| Architect / builder | Designed by Father Zalvidea; built by Mission Indians under the supervision of the Majordomo |
| Architectural style | Spanish tradition |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered; converted by later owners into a residence without structural changes to the original walls, and now owned by the City of San Marino. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 34.12560, -118.12782 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000154.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5351617
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.