One of the oldest extant homes in LA. Though it’s rather misleadingly named.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 13, 1966

The Andrés Pico Adobe is one of the very earliest adobe residences in LA still standing, its main room built by Native Americans living at the nearby Mission San Fernando Rey de España roundabout 1834. The purpose of the original structure is still a mystery.

What we do know is that, while it’s named after Andrés Pico (the Mexican general who capitulated to the Americans during the Mexican-American war in 1847), he never actually lived here, Andrés preferred the more spacious digs of the Mission for his entertaining. His son Rómulo and his wife Catarina did live at the adobe for about 15 years, during which they expanded the home, built a second floor and two more wings.

In 1930, the by-now dilapidated Adobe was “adopted” by archaeologist Mark Harrington, curator of the Southwest Museum. He rebuilt it in period style, reinforced the walls and floors, put a fireplace in. During my tour of the Adobe, I saw a great picture on the mantel of Harrington outside the crumbling building, painting it on an easel en plein air….right next to the original painting itself. If I had thought just a little bit quicker, I could have asked someone to take a picture of me, taking a picture of a photograph of Harrington painting a picture with the painting right next to it, all within the building he was painting. That’s like six generations of meta!

Currently the Andrés Pico Adobe is a sort of “living museum,” featuring objects, documents and photographs from throughout the site’s history. None of the stuff’s original, but it gives a nice sense of what the house would’ve been like to live in during different periods. I took a picture of the Pico family’s branding iron, in a “heart w/ horns” shape that the San Fernando Valley Historical Society has since adopted as its official symbol (they’ve managed the Adobe for 50+ years – shout out to my excellent tour guide, Jim).   

There was also a severely out-of-tune piano with the sheet music for a ‘40s song called “San Fernando Valley” on the music stand; I couldn’t resist singing and playing it at the piano, and Jim told me he’d never heard it performed before. Then he cranked up the vintage player piano a few feet away, and we all danced around inside one of the oldest houses in Los Angeles. A moment I’ll never forget!

PS: On the grounds of the Andrés Pico Adobe Park is the Lankershim Reading Room, used by Jack Lankershim (grandson of the LA pioneer Isaac Lankershim). It was moved here in 2001, from its second location in Canoga Park. Here’s a quick spin around this very cool octagonal building.

Recommended Reading

+Andrés/Rómulo Pico Adobe @ NRHP website

+Timeline of the Andrés Pico Adobe @ San Fernando Valley Historical Society website

+Lankershim Reading Room history @ San Fernando Valley Historical Society website