Downtown Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Avila Adobe
Photographed by Craig Baker
1. Avila Adobe Marker
This is the oldest existing house in Los Angeles. Built about 1818 by Don Francisco Avila, it was occupied briefly as American headquarters in 1847. Severely damaged in the earthquake of 1971, the house is now restored as an example of California life style of the 1840's.
El Adobe Αvila es la casa mαs vieja en Los Angeles. (Marker Number 145.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Hispanic Americans • Notable Buildings • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument series lists.
Location. 34° 3.439′ N, 118° 14.281′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Downtown Los Angeles. It can be reached from Olvera Street north of Paseo De La Plaza, on the right when traveling north. Located at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument/Olvera Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 Olvera St, Los Angeles CA 90012, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s Transverse Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Avila Adobe (a few steps from this marker); Headquarters of Commander Robert Field Stockton (a few steps from this marker); Sister Squares (a few steps from this marker); Old Winery (a few steps from this marker); Sepulveda House (within shouting distance of this marker); Pelanconi House
this page online
More about this marker. This site is a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument; is on the National Register of Historic Places; and a California Historical Landmark.
Regarding Avila Adobe. California Historic Landmark 145 -- This adobe house was built ca. 1818 by Don Francisco Avila, alcalde (mayor) of Los Angeles in 1810. Used as Commodore Robert Stockton's headquarters in 1847, it was repaired by private subscription in 1929-30 when Olvera Street was opened as a Mexican marketplace. It is the oldest existing house in Los Angeles. Source: California Historical Landmarks, California State Parks
Photographed by Michael Kindig, July 28, 2010
2. Original Avila Adobe Marker
La casa mas antigua en existencia en Los Angeles
Photographed by Michael Kindig, July 28, 2010
3. Avila Adobe
Photographed by Michael Kindig, July 28, 2010
4. Avila Adobe
Public Domain, circa 1928
5. Full View of Avila Adobe
Before it was surrounded by shops and landscaping.
Photographed by Michael Kindig, July 28, 2010
6. California Women of the Golden West Marker
Dedicated and placed in honor of California Women of Achievement by the California Women of the Golden West, Los Angeles, 1937.
Photographed by Michael Kindig, July 28, 2010
7. Carreta
Photographed by Michael Kindig, July 28, 2010
8. Carreta
This wooden carreta (cart) was built by carpenter Darryl Robertshaw in 2004. It is a reproduction of a carreta built by Olvera Street merchants Nash Zamora and Meloni Tanzini. This earlier carreta was on display for 43 years, from 1961 to 2004. It is representative of the carretas used for transportation in the early days of the Pueblo of Los Angeles of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Photographed by Henry F. Withey, March 21, 1934
9. Casa Avila - View of West Porch
Library of Congress, HABS CAL,19-LOSAN,2--2
Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 26, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 3,967 times since then and 66 times this year. Last updated on May 8, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1. submitted on June 8, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 26, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 5. submitted on February 2, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6, 7, 8. submitted on December 26, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 9. submitted on January 1, 2012. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
