Rancho Santa Maria de Los Peñasquitos, Historic district in San Diego County, California.
Rancho Santa Maria de Los Peñasquitos is a historic district in San Diego County featuring a preserved adobe ranch house with an interior courtyard set within Los Peñasquitos Canyon. The main building showcases traditional construction methods and layout typical of 19th-century ranchos in the region.
In 1823, Captain Francisco María Ruiz received this land grant, establishing the first Mexican rancho in San Diego County. This marked the beginning of the rancho period that would shape the region's economy and settlement patterns for decades.
The property reflects thousands of years of Kumeyaay Native American presence in this canyon, known to them as Awil Nyawa. Walking through the grounds today, you can sense the layered history of the people who originally inhabited this land.
The property is accessed on foot through the canyon park setting, and visits are guided tours conducted on weekends throughout the year. Wearing comfortable walking shoes is recommended as you will explore the grounds and surrounding natural environment.
Between 1857 and 1860, the rancho served as a station on the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line, where travelers could get meals during their journey. This role made it a key stop on one of California's earliest mail routes.
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