Casa de Estudillo, San Diego
Considered the finest of its day in Mexican California, this most elaborate "casa" – one of the oldest examples of Spanish architecture in the country – was built by the Presidio's commander, José Estudillo, in the 1820s, and is still thought of as the Old Town's showpiece.
By the early 1900s, the building was almost in ruins, but the one-story abode has since been restored well enough to maintain a very authentic feel, containing eclectic period furnishings from the 16th to the 20th century. It boasts several bedrooms, a beautiful formal living room, and a quaint chapel in addition to kitchens, dining rooms, storage and work rooms, and a lovely courtyard. All rooms come with displays and descriptions that explain their former use.
Helen Hunt Jackson's enormously popular novel "Ramona", first published in 1884, may or may not have been inspired by or set at the Estudillo, but the book's popularity apparently helped save the structure when it was declared as the "Ramona's Marriage Place" by the local newspaper San Diego Union in a front page article in 1887.
Estudillo House is a historic adobe house and is designated as a National Historical Landmark in its own right. Jackson's novel made it a very romantic location for the Ramona's fans.
By the early 1900s, the building was almost in ruins, but the one-story abode has since been restored well enough to maintain a very authentic feel, containing eclectic period furnishings from the 16th to the 20th century. It boasts several bedrooms, a beautiful formal living room, and a quaint chapel in addition to kitchens, dining rooms, storage and work rooms, and a lovely courtyard. All rooms come with displays and descriptions that explain their former use.
Helen Hunt Jackson's enormously popular novel "Ramona", first published in 1884, may or may not have been inspired by or set at the Estudillo, but the book's popularity apparently helped save the structure when it was declared as the "Ramona's Marriage Place" by the local newspaper San Diego Union in a front page article in 1887.
Estudillo House is a historic adobe house and is designated as a National Historical Landmark in its own right. Jackson's novel made it a very romantic location for the Ramona's fans.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in San Diego. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Casa de Estudillo on Map
Sight Name: Casa de Estudillo
Sight Location: San Diego, USA (See walking tours in San Diego)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: San Diego, USA (See walking tours in San Diego)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in San Diego, California
Create Your Own Walk in San Diego
Creating your own self-guided walk in San Diego is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Embarcadero Marina Walking Tour
Adjacent to downtown San Diego and the picturesque San Diego Bay is a vibrant waterfront area. Embarcadero Marina, a testament to the region's colorful maritime heritage, houses several outstanding ship museums and is home to other notable sites. The abundance of shopping and dining options, complete with the pristine views of the city skyline, delight numerous locals and tourists and make... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Balboa Park Walking Tour
Balboa Park, named after Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, is one of the largest and most culturally significant urban parks in the United States. Established in 1868 as “City Park,” this 1,400-acre area began as undeveloped public land before its transformation in the early 20th century into a center of art, culture, and recreation. Its evolution truly began with the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Historic Gaslamp District Walking Tour
Downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter is vivid proof that history doesn’t have to sit quietly in a museum—it can dance, dine, and light up the night! Stretching across 16½ lively blocks, this historic district is where Victorian architecture meets craft cocktails and neon signs. With over 90 preserved buildings, the Gaslamp is one of the largest collections of Victorian commercial structures... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Old Town Walking Tour
Old Town is the oldest settled area in San Diego which claims to be the first site visited by Europeans on the West Coast of modern United States.
The Native American culture in the area, however, goes back thousands of years. Historically, this land had been a home to the Kumeyaay people who settled on the banks of the San Diego river since around 1000 AD. The first European explorer to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
The Native American culture in the area, however, goes back thousands of years. Historically, this land had been a home to the Kumeyaay people who settled on the banks of the San Diego river since around 1000 AD. The first European explorer to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
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