Rios-Caledonia Adobe
Encyclopedia
The Rios-Caledonia Adobe is a California Historical Landmark
(#936) and is on the National Register of Historic Places
. It is an adobe
dwelling built in 1835, located in San Miguel, California, in San Luis Obispo County.
, supervised the building of the two-story adobe home using Indian labor on property belonging to Mission San Miguel (which is now across the street). In 1846, when the mission property was sold by Governor Pio Pico
, Rios and William Reed purchased the mission and adobe.
The original building was made of adobe, had a roof of hand-made tiles, and used strips of rawhide to tie the pine rafters in place. The Rios family used the home as a residence until Warran C. Rickard purchased it from the state on a possessory claim.
From 1868 until 1886, George Butchart operated the building as the Caledonia Inn, a stagecoach stop, hotel, and tavern on El Camino Real
. The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad
in San Miguel put an end to the Inn. In 1887, it served briefly as an elementary school. After that, it was used for various businesses (including a mattress factory and tailor shop from 1889 to 1895) and again as a home from 1895 to 1910 for various families.
Charles Dorries purchased the property with 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) of land in 1923 and restored it to use as a tourist attraction. Dorries also built the gift shop in a similar style in 1938 specifically to serve visitors.
By 1964 it had fallen into disrepair. The County of San Luis Obispo purchased the adobe in 1964. In 1968, the Friends of the Adobes formed to preserve and restore the adobe.
Major restoration work completed in 1972, and the building was then formally dedicated. A museum and gift shop opened in June 1978, also opening the adobe for tours.
The site is now operated as a County park.
California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...
(#936) and is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It is an adobe
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
dwelling built in 1835, located in San Miguel, California, in San Luis Obispo County.
History
Petronilo Rios, corporal commanding the Mission San Miguel guard and later owner of Rancho Paso de RoblesRancho Paso de Robles
Rancho Paso de Robles was a Mexican land grant in present day San Luis Obispo County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to José Pedro Narváez. The name means "Pass of the Oaks"...
, supervised the building of the two-story adobe home using Indian labor on property belonging to Mission San Miguel (which is now across the street). In 1846, when the mission property was sold by Governor Pio Pico
Pío Pico
Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...
, Rios and William Reed purchased the mission and adobe.
The original building was made of adobe, had a roof of hand-made tiles, and used strips of rawhide to tie the pine rafters in place. The Rios family used the home as a residence until Warran C. Rickard purchased it from the state on a possessory claim.
El Camino Real (California)
El Camino Real and sometimes associated with Calle Real usually refers to the 600-mile California Mission Trail, connecting the former Alta California's 21 missions , 4 presidios, and several pueblos, stretching from Mission San Diego de Alcalá in San Diego...
. The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
in San Miguel put an end to the Inn. In 1887, it served briefly as an elementary school. After that, it was used for various businesses (including a mattress factory and tailor shop from 1889 to 1895) and again as a home from 1895 to 1910 for various families.
Charles Dorries purchased the property with 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) of land in 1923 and restored it to use as a tourist attraction. Dorries also built the gift shop in a similar style in 1938 specifically to serve visitors.
By 1964 it had fallen into disrepair. The County of San Luis Obispo purchased the adobe in 1964. In 1968, the Friends of the Adobes formed to preserve and restore the adobe.
Current
The site is now operated as a County park.