San Rafael Rancho
Also known as: Bashor Property
Why it's listed
Set on a leafy, almost two-acre lot on Bonita Drive in Glendale, this property holds a small adobe house and a very old oak tree, both once part of the Verdugo family's San Rafael Rancho. The rancho began with an 1784 grant to Jose Maria Verdugo. The adobe is traditionally dated to about 1828 and linked to Catalina Verdugo, but a granddaughter of Julio Verdugo argued it was built around 1860 by her father, Teodoro, and the question remains unresolved. A 1946 northern wing added a dining room, kitchen and dressing room, while the original adobe section changed little. The oak, estimated at over 500 years old, is known as the Oak of Peace. In January 1847 General Andres Pico met envoys of Fremont near it to discuss surrender terms that led to the Treaty of Cahuenga. The oak now needs wire and pole bracing to survive. The adobe is a California Historical Landmark.
Significance in brief: The adobe and the Oak of Peace are tied to the Verdugo family and the Hispanic settlement of the San Rafael Rancho. The oak marks the January 1847 meeting at which General Andres Pico received Fremont's surrender terms, leading to the Treaty of Cahuenga. Together they are presented as a historical and visual unit that reflects the shift from Hispanic to Anglo-American dominance in mid-19th-century California.
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 76000487, listed December 12, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bonita Dr., Glendale |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | December 12, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000487 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Builder in controversy |
| Areas of significance | Military, Exploration/Settlement, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Adobe in use as a private residence; oak in fair condition, braced and treated to keep it alive; the adobe was partly altered by a 1946 northern addition. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Within district | Big Creek Hydroelectric System Historic District |
| Coordinates | 34.18032, -118.23272 (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 76000487.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q79587236
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.