Casa de Esperanza
Also known as: Blas Aguilar Adobe
Why it's listed
Casa de Esperanza, also known as the Blas Aguilar Adobe, is a single-story adobe house on El Camino Real in San Juan Capistrano, facing the old Mission Plaza area. Its thick adobe walls date to the 1790s, when a building boom followed the start of the Mission's stone church, and a rear section was added in the 1840s. It is the last survivor of a row of large adobes that once lined the street. Don Blas Aguilar bought the house in the early 1840s and lived there until his death in 1885. He served as the town's last Alcalde under Mexican rule and its first Justice of the Peace under American rule, so the house reflects the shift between the two governments. Later changes included stucco, a new tile roof, and a garage added around 1940. State staff judged that the building still conveys its early character and its setting in view of the Mission.
Significance in brief: It is one of the oldest adobes in San Juan Capistrano and the only one left of a row of large adobes that fronted the Mission Plaza. It is also tied to Don Blas Aguilar, who lived there from 1841 until 1885, was the last Alcalde under Mexican rule and the first Justice of the Peace under American rule.
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 90001484, listed October 1, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 31806 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | October 1, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001484 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1790-1885 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (Don Blas Aguilar listed as significant person, who enlarged the house) |
| Architectural style | Other: Early California Adobe |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in the description as vacant; the house is stuccoed with a tile roof and a wooden rear addition converted to a garage. Windows were boarded up in January 1989. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 33.50109, -117.66147 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 90001484.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133336127
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.