Places, Earth Petaluma Adobe

Petaluma Adobe

Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park was a working ranch and part-time home to General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. At its peak, 1836-1846, it included 66,000 acres - 100 square miles. General Vallejo lived primarily in his home in Sonoma. The house is made of adobe brick and redwood and was once a complete quadrangle but only hlaf remains today. The General had been sent to this area to secularize Mission San Francisco Salano in Sonoma, to start the Pueblo of Sonoma, and protect the northern boundary with Russian settlement at Fort Ross. He was given land to encourage his support and the ranch also supported the military objective. The Bear Flag Revolt of 1846 and the gold rush put an end to the prosperity of the ranch. The General was taken captive and by the time he was released, squatters had settled parts of the ranch and construction prices made completing the building too expensive. The ranch was unprofitable and it was sold in 1857. The Native Sons of the Golden West purchased the site in 1910 and held it until the state purchased it in 1951. Today it is the largest formerly privately owned adobe in California and some of the land remains as part of the state park. The site is California State Historic Landmark #18 (in 1932) and National Historic Landmark (1970). Today, about 80% of the adobe and 20% of the redwood is original. Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park 3325 Adobe Road Petaluma, CA 94954 707-762-4871 Check

The path from the parking lot to the house.

General Vallejo stature near parking lot.

Approaching the house.

Cactus with house beyond.

Inside the courtyard of the U-shaped house.

Weaving Room and Pantry. This is where wool from 3000 sheep was made into cloth.

Inside the courtyard of the U-shaped house. It was once a full quadrangle, but the other half has been lost to time and deterioration.

Section of courtyard under cover.

Modern steel to keep the old building safe.

Granary and store.

Workroom.

Hides Store and Leather working Room. Many cattle were raised, but the meat was usually left to rot as only the hides and tallow were used. It was difficult to preserve meat in the days before refrigeration. Tallow had several uses including candles, soap, and explosives.

Outside the courtyard.

Inside the courtyard of the U-shaped house.

Inside the courtyard.

Vallejo Family Bedroom.

Long balcony on the back side of the second floor. There are no doors along this side.

Balcony of one wing.

Ceiling of one room.

Servant's Quarters.

Courtyard seen from balcony.

Dining Room and Parlor (Sala).

Dining Room and Parlor (Sala).

Lizard saying, "Come back again."

This page last updated: Monday, 14-Jun-2010 11:15:54 EDT

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