Pico, Romulo, Adobe
historic place
The Rómulo Pico Adobe, a historic place in Mission Hills, Los Angeles County, is one of the oldest residences in the area. Its earliest section was built around 1834 by Native Americans from the San Fernando Mission, including Tongva-Fernandeño, Tataviam-Fernandeño, and Chumash-Ventuaño people. The original structure was a single room, located within the Mission's orchards and vineyards. In 1846, Eulogio de Celis acquired the surrounding Rancho Ex-Mission San Fernando lands and expanded the adobe with a dining room and library. Later, in 1874, Rómulo Pico, son of Andrés Pico, undertook significant renovations, adding an upper story, a kitchen, and two side wings. After a period of deterioration, archaeologist Mark Raymond Harrington purchased and restored the property in 1930. The Rómulo Pico Adobe was registered as California Historical Landmark #362 in 1939. It became Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #7 in 1962 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Today, the San Fernando Valley Historical Society manages the adobe as a living museum. This site is significant as the oldest residence in the San Fernando Valley and the second oldest in Los Angeles.