La Casa Primera de Rancho San Jose

La Casa Primera de Rancho San Jose is a five-room adobe dwelling in Pomona featuring traditional Mexican architectural design. Thick walls built from adobe bricks create the structure, while a straightforward interior layout defines the residential form.

The building was constructed in 1837 by Ygnacio Palomares on the Rancho San Jose land and represents the oldest structure in Pomona Valley. This adobe residence survived decades of California settlement and expansion to become a key record of that early colonial period.

The house embodies the early California ranching era when Mexican settlers established their homes and farming operations across the region. Walking through its rooms, you sense how families lived and worked during that formative period.

The Historical Society of Pomona Valley maintains this property as a museum, providing visitors access to view the interior and learn about 19th-century residential architecture. It is advisable to contact the museum beforehand to confirm visiting conditions and accessibility details.

Francisco Palomares discovered the first artesian well on this property in Pomona Valley, leading to the establishment of the Old Settlement Water Company. This underground water source became essential to the area's future development and settlement.