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

Johnson-Taylor Adobe Ranch House

Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, June 14, 2014

1. Johnson-Taylor Adobe Ranch House Marker

Inscription. Established in 1862 by George Alonzo Johnson. The residence and later additions were used as a hotel, bunkhouse, and quarters for a working cattle ranch into the 1960's. Acquired by the County of San Diego in 1974, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, the adobe is being restored as a focal point for the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve.

Erected 1984 by San Diego County Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with Squibob Chapter, E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.

Location. 32° 56.311′ N, 117° 7.77′ W. Marker is in San Diego, California, in San Diego County. Marker can be reached from Black Mountain Road near Mercy Road. The marker and ranch house are located inside Rancho Penasquitos Canyon Preserve. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12020 Black Mountain Road, San Diego CA 92129, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Development of CDMA for Cellular Communications (approx. 4.9 miles away); Tierrasanta - Formerly Camp Elliott (approx. 5.4 miles away); Community Church of Poway

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(approx. 5.4 miles away); a different marker also named Community Church of Poway (approx. 5.4 miles away); Flint Farm (approx. 5.6 miles away); Templars Hall (approx. 5.8 miles away); Nelson House (approx. 5.8 miles away); Baldwin Locomotive No. 3 (approx. 5.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Diego.

Regarding Johnson-Taylor Adobe Ranch House. San Diego County's first Mexican land grant includes an 1823 adobe ranch house constructed by the Commandante of the San Diego Presidio. In 1846, Rancho los Penasquitos was the first place of rest for General Stephen Watts Kearny and his Army of the West after the Battle of San Pasqual. Enlarged in 1862 as the gracious home of a celebrated Yankee river boat captain and his wife, the niece of California's last Mexican governor, Pio Pico, the building and site comprise a National Historic and Archaeological District.

The beautiful canyon locale within a 3700-acre open space preserve offers hiking, biking and equestrian trails. A visitor to Rancho de los Penasquitos will discover more than 8,000 years of San Diego history. Its bountiful natural

Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, June 14, 2014

2. Johnson-Taylor Adobe Ranch House Marker

View of marker in front of the ranch house

resources made it ideal not only for the millennia of Native American habitation, but for the 19th century settlers. A portion of the ranch house adobe was built in 1823, making it one of the oldest existing structures in San Diego. Much of the rest was built in the 1860s. The rancho is situated in a canyon that features miles of trails through riparian and grassland habitats.
Source: (1) Founders' Trail Historic Sites website http://earlysandiego.org/FT00sites.html#6ranchopena and (2) a brochure entitled "San Diego County Historical Treasures," published by County of San Diego Parks and Recreation.

Also see . . . Rancho Santa Maria de Los Penasquitos. (Submitted on June 17, 2014, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida.)

Johnson-Taylor Adobe Ranch House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, June 14, 2014

3. Johnson-Taylor Adobe Ranch House

Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, June 14, 2014

4. Johnson-Taylor Adobe Ranch House

Historic Photo of Ranch House, circa 1892 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, June 14, 2014

5. Historic Photo of Ranch House, circa 1892

View of Penasquitos Canyon From the Ranch House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, June 14, 2014

6. View of Penasquitos Canyon From the Ranch House

George Alonzo Johnson, circa 1865 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, June 14, 2014

7. George Alonzo Johnson, circa 1865

Maria Estefana Alvarado de Johnson image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Marsha A. Matson, June 14, 2014

8. Maria Estefana Alvarado de Johnson

Credits. This page was last revised on November 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2014, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida. This page has been viewed 755 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on June 17, 2014, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.