History
Adobe Flores stands at 1804 Foothill Street in South Pasadena, on the gentle slopes that once formed part of Rancho San Rafael, the 1784 Spanish concession granted to Jose Maria Verdugo. The dwelling is generally dated to the late Mexican period and is associated by tradition with General Jose Maria Flores, the Mexican commander whose forces operated in southern California during the final months of the Mexican-American War. Local accounts place him at or near the adobe in the weeks preceding the January 1847 Treaty of Cahuenga, and the building has carried his name ever since.
The structure is a one-story vernacular adobe with a simple rectangular footprint, thick sun-dried earth walls laid on a low stone or rubble base, and a low-pitched gable roof. As with other late-rancho residences in the Los Angeles basin, exterior walls were finished with lime plaster to protect the adobe from rain, and the principal rooms opened onto a sheltered veranda rather than through interior hallways. The plan and detailing are domestic and functional, in keeping with the modest country houses built by Mexican-era settlers across the San Gabriel and San Rafael landscapes.
Adobe Flores was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 under reference 73000404, recognizing its significance as a surviving Mexican-period dwelling and its association with the political and military events that closed Mexican rule in California. The property has remained in private hands across its history, and successive owners have undertaken repairs that have preserved its adobe core while accommodating modern residential use.
The house is not open to the public. Within California's broader adobe tradition, Adobe Flores belongs to the small group of pre-American dwellings that still stand in the San Gabriel Valley, alongside the Centinela Adobe, the Lopez Adobe, and the Avila Adobe in downtown Los Angeles. Together these buildings document the domestic architecture of the rancho era in the years immediately before statehood.
Common questions
What is Adobe Flores?
Adobe Flores is a historic adobe property in South Pasadena, California, listed on the National Register of Historic Places under reference number 73000404. The structure is associated with the Californio-era history of the San Gabriel Valley.
When was Adobe Flores built?
No precise year is preserved in the registry data for Adobe Flores. It is recognized as a historic adobe property associated with early California history and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Where is Adobe Flores located?
Adobe Flores is located at 1804 Foothill Street in South Pasadena, California.
Is Adobe Flores open to the public?
No, Adobe Flores is a private residence and is not open for tours. The property is documented in the National Register of Historic Places under reference number 73000404.
Why is Adobe Flores historically significant?
Adobe Flores is significant as a documented historic adobe property in South Pasadena, listed on the National Register of Historic Places under reference number 73000404. It represents the surviving built heritage of California's adobe building tradition.