The Flats in Beverly Hills in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Valdez Homestead

Beverly Hills

— Golden Shield Commemorative Plaque —

Valdez Homestead Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 20, 2025

1. Valdez Homestead Marker

Inscription.
The Doña Maria Rita Valdez de Villa Homestead
The original adobe homestead (1838-1854) built for settlers Doña Maria Rita Valdez de Villa and her husband Vicente Valdez was located at this site and is considered the first home built in Beverly Hills. In 1838 the Mexican government granted a large tract of land to the Valdez's, which Doña Maria Rita named El Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas, the Ranch of the Gathering Waters.

Erected 2023 by City of Beverly Hills. (Marker Number 1.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1838.

Location. 34° 5.124′ N, 118° 24.492′ W. Marker is in Beverly Hills, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in The Flats. It is at the intersection of Alpine Drive and Sunset Boulevard, on the right when traveling south on Alpine Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 909 N Alpine Dr, Beverly Hills CA 90210, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific

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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 Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Margaret Jane Anderson Fountain (approx. 0.4 miles away); Will Rogers Memorial Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Beverly Hills Hotel (approx. 0.4 miles away); Virginia Robinson Gardens (approx. half a mile away); Greystone Mansion (approx. 0.6 miles away); Indian Battle (approx. ¾ mile away); Beverly Hills Women's Club (approx. 0.8 miles away); Gershwin Residence (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beverly Hills.

Regarding Valdez Homestead. Near this corner was the site of Mexican settlers Dona Maria Rita Valdez de Villa and her Spanish solider husband Vicente Valdez's homestead adobe (1838-1854). Vicente died in 1828, leaving her a widow and rancher with eleven children. The rancho was where the waters came together and was one of the places where artesian

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 20, 2025

2. Valdez Homestead Marker

wells bubbled up near the surface creating swamp-like (cienegas) conditions. Being placed at a higher location was important for her home. The ranch was attacked by Native Americans in 1852, and although Maria Rita prevailed, two years later she sold the land to Henry Hancock and Benjamin D. Wilson for $4,000 (see Nearby Marker: Indian Battle). Over the years, the Rancho changed owners a few times, and the ranch land was officially incorporated as the City of Beverly Hills in 1914.

Also see . . . Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas. The 1938 land grant acquisition by Dona Maria Rita Valdez de Villa, and the liquidation of her Ranch in 1854 to Bejamin D. Wilson & Henry H. Hancock.

From the link...

Amazing history of one of the pueblitos of Los Angelas known as Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas or today known as Beverly Hills, circa mid-century by an Afro-Latina widow of Spanish soldier, Vicente Ferrer Villa, Maria Rita Valdez de Villa.

Following a 1852 ambush by Native Americans near Benedict Canyon and Chevy Chase Drive, she sold the property in 1854 for $4,000.

(Submitted on May 22, 2026, by Vincenzo AA Stornaiuolo of Pahrump, Nevada.)

Additional keywords. Indian Battle

Maria Rita Valdez image. Click for full size.

courtesy Beverlyhills.org

3. Maria Rita Valdez

Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 436 times since then and 193 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 23, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3. submitted on July 24, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.