Rancho San Lucas, Historic ranch district in Monterey County, California
Rancho San Lucas is a historic ranch district in Monterey County located along the western bank of the Salinas River, covering thousands of acres of land. The property features an adobe barn from the 1800s and other architectural structures that show how ranches were built and organized during that era.
Governor Juan B. Alvarado granted the land to Rafael Estrada in 1842, beginning continuous ranch operations in the region under Mexican rule. Later, a Scottish sailor named James McKinley purchased the property in 1862 and sold it to Alberto Trescony, who expanded it significantly.
The ranch reflects the meeting of Mexican and American cultures in its landscape and buildings, showing how land and life changed over time in this region. You can see this cultural blend in the way the property is structured and used.
The property is located southwest of Paris Valley Road and can be observed from accessible viewing areas, allowing visitors to see the historic buildings from the outside. The landscape layout and river location make the site relatively easy to explore and understand.
A Scottish sailor became an unexpected owner of the property in 1862, playing a brief but important role in its history before selling to the next owner. This unusual connection shows how the American West attracted people from all corners of the world during that era.
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