Don Abel Stearns House

The Don Abel Stearns House was an adobe residence in downtown Los Angeles with a U-shaped layout of structures surrounding a central courtyard. The buildings occupied an entire city block near the intersection of Main and Arcadia streets, with multiple sections extending toward the street frontage.

Construction of the residence took place from 1835 to 1838, making it the largest private dwelling in Los Angeles for many years. Its demolition in 1877 to clear space for a new commercial building ended an era of early California architecture.

The residence functioned as a social hub where the Bandini daughters hosted guests from other California settlements and held celebrations throughout the year. The rooms reflect the active entertaining customs of a wealthy family in early Los Angeles.

The property sat at a central crossroads with clear visibility from the main streets of downtown. Access was managed through outer gates that protected the courtyard and interior spaces from the surrounding activity.

The ballroom structure stretched over 100 feet and was the largest private entertainment space in 1840s Los Angeles. This scale was remarkable for a residential property and demonstrated the exceptional resources of the Stearns family.

GPS coordinates: 34.05580,-118.24000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:21