La Casa de Estudillo — Attraction in San Diego

The Casa de Estudillo, also known as the Estudillo House, is a historic adobe house in San Diego, California, United States. It was constructed in 1827 by José María Estudillo and his son José Antonio Estudillo, early settlers of San Diego, and was considered one of the finest houses in Mexican California. It is located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, and is designated as both a National and a California Historical Landmark in its own right. The Casa de Estudillo is one of three National Historic Landmarks in Southern California that were closely tied to Ramona, a novel of Californio life shortly after the American acquisition of California; the other two are Rancho Camulos and Rancho Guajome. The large building is a U-shaped structure, measuring 113 feet (34.4 m) on the front side, and 98 feet (29.9 m) on each of the wings. It is constructed in the Spanish Colonial style, meaning that the house's 13 rooms are set consecutively in the building and connected only by an external covered corredor (as opposed to an interior hallway). The main portion (the center) contains the entrance, facing west. To its left is the chapel and to its right is the schoolroom. Both rooms originally were smaller, with bedrooms located at the ends of building, but a 1910 restoration eliminated those walls to enlarge the rooms. Two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen (which was added at a later date), and the servants' dining room are in the north wing, while the south wing has three bedrooms and the family dining room. The house is topped by a cupola from which bullfights and festivals in the adjacent plaza could be seen. The museum gives a good perspective on how a farmstead was setup and lets you walk through the house and see room by room how living was. Nice placards explain the...

La Casa de Estudillo in Old Town San Diego is one of the most significant historic landmarks in California. Built in 1827 by Captain José María de Estudillo, a prominent military leader and early settler, this large adobe home is a stunning example of Spanish Colonial architecture. The house was designed as a hacienda-style courtyard residence and quickly became a social, political, and religious hub for the growing community.

Spanning 13 rooms surrounding a central courtyard, La Casa de Estudillo was not only a private home but also served as a place of hospitality, hosting prominent figures and events. Over the years, it gained legendary status as the "Ramona Marriage Place," thanks to the popular 19th-century novel Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson, which romanticized the lifestyle of early Californians.

Today, the home is a museum that allows visitors to step back in time and experience life in early 19th-century San Diego. The rooms are furnished with period-appropriate pieces, and the lush courtyard garden reflects the beauty and utility of early California homes. Managed as part of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, La Casa de Estudillo is a must-visit for history enthusiasts and anyone curious about San Diego’s vibrant past. It’s an immersive and educational experience that connects visitors to the region’s rich...

One of the largest structures in old town San Diego worth exploring. This former house has been well laid out to take you back in time on what it was like back in the 1800s.

There is a great timeline of the family who lives there, as well as many unique items that are on display. Two of the rooms we found most interesting were the office/study and the formal dining room. The latter of which you don't invesion in a west coast setting and something you see...