Avila Adobe

Avila Adobe is a two-story adobe house in the Los Angeles Plaza Historic District with seven rooms and walls made from sun-dried clay bricks supported by cottonwood beams. The walls are about three feet thick and keep the interior cool even on hot summer days.

Francisco Avila, a successful cattle rancher and later mayor of Los Angeles, built this residence in 1818 for his family. During the war between Mexico and the United States in 1847, the building served as military headquarters for American forces under Commodore Robert Stockton.

The name comes from Francisco Avila, a cattle rancher and mayor whose family lived in this house for generations. Visitors today see furniture and everyday objects from the era of Mexican rule over California, showing how wealthy families lived at that time.

The museum is open daily and admission is free, guided tours explain the building methods and family life in the 19th century. A visit takes about 30 minutes and is suitable for children, with rooms accessible from the courtyard.

This house is considered the oldest surviving residence in Los Angeles and shows the Spanish and Mexican building tradition before American settlers arrived. The courtyard with its potted plants and fountain recalls the architecture of Mexican haciendas that were once common in the region.

Location: California

GPS coordinates: 34.05720,-118.23800

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:30