California is well known for it’s historic 21 Spanish Mission stretching from San Diego to Sonoma. Interspersed with these missions are other historical ranchos, adobes, and forst capturing the architecture and glory of the early California period. One such adobe is in Ventura, California called the Olivas Adobe.

Born in 1809 in Los Angeles, Raymundo Olivas was the seventh child of a poor family. He joined the Mexican Army in California at the age of 16 and was assigned to the Presidio (fort) of Santa Barbara as a Lancer (cavalryman).

Raymundo met his future wife, Teodora Lopez in Santa Barbara. They were married on November 6, 1832, and together they had 21 children - eight girls and 13 boys.

In return for their service to the State, Raymundo and his friend, Felipe Lorenzana, were granted 4,670 acres by Mexican Governor Juan B. Alvarado. Raymundo began ranching his land in 1847.

The main house for the Rancho San Miguel was one of the few two-story haciendas in Southern California and one of the most impressive homes in the Santa Clara River Valley

In 1848, gold was discovered in the American River and California changed forever. People came from all over the world to mine for gold. Knowing that the miners needed food, Raymundo's cattle herd became his gold mine.

These were the golden days of the don - with his new income, Raymundo finished the second story of his home and became known for his elaborate parties. For many years the Rancho prospered.

Droughts came in the 1860s destroying the cattle empires. Don Raymundo survived by raising sheep. In 1864, his partner Felipe Lorenzana sold his half of the Rancho.

The death of Don Raymundo in 1879 was the beginning of the end for the Olivas' fortune. Though some family members retained pieces of the land grant until as late as 1968, the house was sold in 1899.

After passing through many hands, the adobe was purchased by yeast king Max Fleischmann who restored the building in 1927. Upon Fleischmann's death, the adobe was given to the City of Ventura and it opened as a museum in July, 1972.

While the Olivas Adobe is open year round there are several events that can make the trip extra special. Especially in September when they have Living History Day with reenactment of life in Californias Rancho Days and at Christmas a special candlit ceremony with traditional luminaries.