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| Landmark #199 | Orange County | Visited: November 12, 2012 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | The Serrano Adobe still stands inside the Heritage Hill Historical Park! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Cañada de los Alisos, also called El Toro, was granted to José Serrano in 1842 by Governor Alvarado. Señor Serrano and his relatives erected a number of adobes on the grant, one of which still serves as private living quarters.
OTHER TIDBITS: This rancho was originally part of the land owned by Mission San Juan Capistrano, and many of the people who came to be Don Serrano’s employees were the mission’s former neophytes! They raised crops like watermelons, grapes, and lentils here and were known for raising top-quality horses! The Serrano family was known for hospitality, even when obligated to host the invading forces of Commodore Robert Stockton and General Stephen Kearny on their southern invasion route in 1847! The Serranos were able to hold onto their land titles until the drought of 1862 killed off thousands of cattle and forced José Serrano into bankruptcy! The rancho was divided up into ten parcels, but even today, some of the Serrano descendants can be found living there! This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Heritage Hill, Serrano Regional Historic Village NE corner Lake Forest Dr and Serrano Rd El Toro, CA 92630 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~47mi (76km) — 0.8hrs |
| When should I go? | The park is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM! |
