Olivas Adobe
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Why it's listed
Olivas Adobe is a rancho home complex on a low bluff above the old Santa Clara River in Ventura, California. A small adobe was built in 1837 as the Olivas family homestead. A larger two-story adobe followed in 1849, funded by cattle sales during the gold rush years. Don Raimundo Olivas supervised the work, while his wife Theodora took responsibility for construction as he was often away herding. The buildings were joined by an adobe wall around a courtyard, originally designed for defense, with doors and windows facing inward. Later owners added a dairy milking room, refurbished the house, and used it as a hunting club and duck reserve. The City of Ventura acquired it in 1963 and restored it in the early 1970s with a foundation grant. It is valued as a rare two-story adobe of the Mexican rancho era in Southern California and is a state historical landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of a two-story adobe in Southern California, a type that was uncommon there in the mid-19th century. It reflects early rancho days and Mexican land grant practices, and the site has yielded small artifacts of the early California rancho period. It is also California State Landmark No. 115.
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 79000570, listed July 24, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4200 Olivas Park Dr., Ventura |
|---|---|
| County | Ventura County |
| Listed | July 24, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000570 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Raimundo Olivas/builder |
| Architectural style | Monterey adobe style, patterned after Northern California Monterey Adobes |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored by the City of Ventura, which acquired it in 1963; now a park with an exhibit hall and extensive gardens. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 34.24448, -119.24204 (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 79000570.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7087108
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.