Pena Adobe
Also known as: The Pena Adobe on Los Putos Rancho
Why it's listed
Built in 1842 or soon after, this adobe house southwest of Vacaville was the home of Juan Felipe Pena, who came from New Mexico with Juan Manuel Vaca to settle a 44,383-acre land grant known as Los Putos. The house measures about 18 by 50 feet, with three rooms, thick walls on a cobblestone foundation, and a half-story attic once used for storage and reached by an outside stairway. Redwood siding added before 1870 helped protect the walls, and a frame addition from the 1870s was later moved nearby. A 1965-66 restoration, costing $33,000, used sun-dried bricks and hand-split redwood. Vaca's own adobe was destroyed in the 1892 earthquake, leaving the Pena house as the survivor. Vacaville takes its name from Vaca. The site also holds a former Ulatis Indian rancheria, and artifacts are displayed in the museum. It stands in about 27 acres of Pena Park and is furnished in period style.
Significance in brief: The adobe is a rare surviving house from the Mexican-era Los Putos land grant settled by Juan Felipe Pena and Juan Manuel Vaca. It was restored in 1965-66 using traditional methods and materials. The grant is tied to the naming of the city of Vacaville, and the site was once a rancheria of Ulatis Indians.
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 72000261, listed January 7, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 mi. SW of Vacaville on I-80, Vacaville |
|---|---|
| County | Solano County |
| Listed | January 7, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000261 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Restoration directed by engineer Merle Curtice; original builder not named beyond owner Juan Felipe Pena |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in 1965-66 and open to the public as a museum with a resident curator on duty; condition listed as good. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 38.33709, -122.01535 (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 72000261.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q38251609
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.