Old Town in San Diego in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
La Casa de Rodriguez
Racine & Laramie
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 31, 2015
1. La Casa de Rodriguez
Racine & Laramie Marker
Racine & Laramie Marker
c. 1830 One-room adobe built by family of Juan Rodriguez, former presidio soldier.
1851 George Tebbetts, a future son-in-law, opened Exchange Hotel.
1869 Canadians Alexi J. Racine and Charles Laramie opened general store specializing in cigars, tobacco, and pipes.
1872 Destroyed by fire.
1974 Reconstructed by concessionaire. (Marker Number 491.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list.
Location. 32° 45.259′ N, 117° 11.845′ W. Marker is in San Diego, California, in San Diego County. It is in Old Town. It is on San Diego Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2737 San Diego Avenue, San Diego CA 92110, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s Peninsular 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.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: La Casa de Machado y Silvas (within shouting distance of this marker); First San Diego Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); First Raising of U.S. Flag (within shouting distance of this marker); Estudillo House (within shouting distance of this marker); Kearney Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); La Casa de Machado y Wrightington (within shouting distance of this marker); La Casa de Estudillo (within shouting distance of this marker); La Casa de Alvarado (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Diego.
More about this marker. Located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.
Regarding La Casa de Rodriguez. The Exchange Hotel was located next door. It is California Historical Landmark No. 491. It is also called Franklin House or the Franklin Hotel. It no longer exists.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 31, 2015
2. La Casa de Rodriguez Marker
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 31, 2015
3. Have a pleasant Journey
In 1868 Racine & Laramie became San Diego's first cigar store. Having come from eastern Canada in the prosperity following the War Between the States, Messrs. Racine and Laramie sold cigars, tobacco, stationary, pipes, cutlery and gentlemen's furnishings.
The adobe they rented was built in the 1820's as the retirement home for leather-jacket soldier, Juan Rodriguez of the Royal Presidio. It was one of the first six buildings in the small pueblo, population 500.
The Rodriguez family held ownership through periods of depression and Gold Rush boom, and their son, Ramon, was on the City Council. The widow Rodriguez had the building remodeled in 1867 and rented to Racine & Laramie and the Bank Exchange saloon. All was lost in the fire of 1872.
Using archeology, historic research and photographs this building has been reconstructed with the interior furnished and stocked as it may have been in that remote, frontier Pacific port.
Have a pleasant Journey
Alexi Racine
The adobe they rented was built in the 1820's as the retirement home for leather-jacket soldier, Juan Rodriguez of the Royal Presidio. It was one of the first six buildings in the small pueblo, population 500.
The Rodriguez family held ownership through periods of depression and Gold Rush boom, and their son, Ramon, was on the City Council. The widow Rodriguez had the building remodeled in 1867 and rented to Racine & Laramie and the Bank Exchange saloon. All was lost in the fire of 1872.
Using archeology, historic research and photographs this building has been reconstructed with the interior furnished and stocked as it may have been in that remote, frontier Pacific port.
Have a pleasant Journey
Alexi Racine
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 31, 2015
4. La Casa de Rodriguez
Racine & Laramie
Racine & Laramie
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 31, 2015
5. Racine & Laramie
Photographed by Craig Baker, March 9, 2026
6. Site of the Exchange Hotel
It was also known as the Franklin Hotel.
courtesy NPS
7. Old Town
The hotel is the three-story building at left.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 30, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 981 times since then and 86 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 30, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 6. submitted on March 9, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 7. submitted on March 10, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
