Old Town in San Diego in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
La Casa de Machado y Stewart
| | California Historical Landmarks No. 73 | |
Photographed by Craig Baker
1. Casa de Machado Marker
c.1835 One-story adobe built by Josι Manuel Machado, a corporal at the presidio.
1845 Jack Stewart, a carpenter by trade, married youngest daughter Rose and moved in with the family.
1911 Home completely remodeled.
1932 Listed as California Historical Landmark.
1945 Sold by Machado family.
1968 Rehabilitated by California State Parks.
Erected by California State Parks. (Marker Number 73.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1835.
Location. 32° 45.217′ N, 117° 11.866′ W. Marker is in San Diego, California, in San Diego County. It is in Old Town. It can be reached from Congress Street. Located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2707 Congress St, 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. 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 Presidio Soldier's Home (a few steps from this marker); Mason Street School (within shouting distance of this marker); First San Diego Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); La Casa de Rodriguez
this page online
More about this marker. This is California Historical Landmark No. 73 - Casa de Stewart.
Regarding La Casa de Machado y Stewart. Built circa 1835 by Juan Manuel Machado, a retired Presidio soldier who arrived in San Diego with the Leather Jacket Company in 1781, the simple adobe brick structure initially had only two rooms, a sala or living room and a bedroom. A covered veranda was incorporated at the south side of the structure. Framed with ridge poles fastened around overhead beams by rawhide strips, the roof was made of tule thatch packed with dried mud, and covered in terra cotta tiles.
After raising his large family here, Machado gave this home to his daughter Rosa, who married Jack Stewart. He was an American pilot boat operator from Maine, who was once a shipmate of Richard Henry Dana, Jr. One of Stewart's claims
Photographed by Craig Baker
2. Casa de Machado and Marker
The marker is on the ground, to the right of the door.
Jack and Rosa Machado y Stewart raised eleven children in this home and made many changes to the structure, adding rooms, installing mulit-pane windows, and whitewashing the walls. The last family member to reside in the ancestral home was Carmen Stewart Meza, who lived there for 50 years, until a flood forced her to leave in 1966. The house was acquired by California State Parks and restored to its earlier appearance in 1973.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 22, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 247 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 22, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
