Gonzalez, Rafael, House
Why it's listed
Built about 1825 at 835 Laguna Street in Santa Barbara, this one-story adobe house was erected by Rafael Gonzalez, who served as alcalde of the town in 1829. The main block measures roughly 90 by 18 feet, with two short one-room wings projecting north at each end to form a shallow U. Covered verandas run along both long sides. The walls are two feet thick, and three feet at the southeast end. Originally they were whitewashed with lime, the roof was tile, and the floors were packed earth later replaced with wood. The house was restored in the 1920s, when brick fireplaces, chimneys and tile floors were installed and several windows were added on the southwest front. Gonzalez's daughter inherited the property in 1866, and it became known as the Ramirez adobe. It is recognized as a good example of a restored, medium-sized adobe townhouse of the Mexican period and is now used as offices.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a good example of a restored, typical medium-sized adobe townhouse of the Mexican period. It is also tied to Rafael Gonzalez, who was alcalde of Santa Barbara in 1829, and to later owners who knew it as the Ramirez adobe.
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 70000149, listed April 15, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 835 Laguna St., Santa Barbara |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Barbara County |
| Listed | April 15, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000149 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Rafael Gonzalez (builder) |
| Architectural style | Adobe townhouse of the Mexican period |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated April 15, 1970 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in the 1920s; in good condition and used for offices. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.42422, -119.69600 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 70000149.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7282155
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.