La Casa Primera de Rancho San Jose
Why it's listed
Built in 1837 by Ygnacio Palomares, one of the joint grantees of Rancho San Jose, this adobe house at 1569 North Park Avenue in Pomona is regarded as the first residence in the city. The walls are two and a half feet thick and rest on a stone and lime foundation, with deep-set windows and a porch across the front. The house was originally L-shaped, and its oldest portion is believed to be a room of sod construction. Palomares left it in 1854 for a new home, and his son Francisco, later a county supervisor and school board member, repaired it and lived there from 1867. The Nichols family owned it from 1886 until Roscoe Hart bought it in 1941 and added modern rooms. In 1972 the Historical Society of Pomona Valley bought the property, and the City of Pomona later took over the title. It now serves as a museum.
Significance in brief: It is described as the first residence built in what became the city of Pomona, erected by one of the joint grantees of Rancho San Jose. It is also a typical example of California adobe construction. Later it was home to Francisco Palomares, a county supervisor and member of the first public school board.
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 75000436, listed April 3, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1569 N. Park Ave., Pomona |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | April 3, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000436 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Ygnacio Palomares |
| Architectural style | Vernacular (typical California adobe construction) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Open to the public on Sunday afternoons and occupied by caretakers; in good condition though altered, and used as a museum. |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Coordinates | 34.07507, -117.75498 (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 75000436.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14682993
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.