Spring Valley in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Bancroft Ranch House

Photographed by Craig Baker

1. Bancroft Ranch House Marker

Inscription. Adobe built about 1850 by A.S. Ensworth. Home of Capt. Rufus K. Porter and family. Curved timbers brought from the "Clarissa Andrews," famed coaling hulk formerly of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. Historian Hubert Howe Bancroft later owned this estate and here wrote a part of his monumental History of California.

Erected 1958 by San Diego County Board of Supervisors and the Historical Markers Committee. (Marker Number 626.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the National Historic Landmarks series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 32° 44.74′ N, 117° 0.116′ W. Marker is in Spring Valley, California, in San Diego County. It can be reached from Memory Lane east of Bancroft Drive. Marker is located in the center of the parking lot, approximately 200 feet northwest of Bancroft County Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9000 Memory Lane, Spring Valley CA 91977, 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 Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Amaziah Lord Knox (approx. 4.1 miles away); Historic El Cajon Hall

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(approx. 4.2 miles away); Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (approx. 4½ miles away); San Diego State University (approx. 4.7 miles away); KCBQ “Top 40” Personalities (approx. 6½ miles away); Padre Luis Jayme (approx. 6.6 miles away); Mission Indians (approx. 6.6 miles away); El Camino Real (approx. 6.6 miles away).

Photographed by Michael Kindig, April 5, 2009

2. Bancroft Ranch House Marker

Bancroft Ranch House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dean Whittle, March 28, 2010

3. Bancroft Ranch House

Photographed by Michael Kindig, April 5, 2009

4. Bancroft Ranch House

Photographed by Michael Kindig, April 5, 2009

5. Bancroft Ranch House

Bancroft Ranch House El Camino Real Bell image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dean Whittle, March 28, 2010

6. Bancroft Ranch House El Camino Real Bell

National Historic Landmark plaque

Honoring Herbert Howe Bancroft 1832-1918 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dean Whittle, March 28, 2010

7. Honoring Herbert Howe Bancroft 1832-1918

Noted historian of the West, and the Spring Valley citizens who saved this historic adobe. San Diego Chapter, NSDAR

Photographed by Michael Kindig, April 5, 2009

8. Bancroft Ranch House

Photographed by H.D. Hanekamp, circa 1964

9. Bancroft Ranch House

HABS CA-431
"Built about 1856 by A.S. Ensworth, Justice of the Peace. Occupied by Captain Rufus K. Porter who gave Spring Valley its name. Later occupied by Hubert Howe Bancroft, the famous historian, from 1885 until his death in 1918."

Photographed by H. G. Hanekamp, circa 1964

10. West Room

Historic American Building Survey
HABS CAL,37-SPRIV,1--4

Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 29, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,282 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 5, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on December 30, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 3. submitted on January 18, 2012, by Dean Whittle of San Diego, California. 4, 5. submitted on January 4, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 6, 7. submitted on January 18, 2012, by Dean Whittle of San Diego, California. 8. submitted on January 4, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 9, 10. submitted on January 18, 2012, by Dean Whittle of San Diego, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.