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| Landmark #534 | Solano County | Visited: Sept. 25, 2014 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | The restored home of two friends named Juan who settled the Lagoon Valley! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: This is the site of the 10-square-league Rancho Los Putos that Governor Pío Pico granted to Juan Felipe Peña and Manuel Cabeza Vaca in 1845. The Peña Adobe, erected here in 1843, is still owned by the descendants of their families (1955). The nearby town of Vacaville was established in 1851 on land that Vaca sold to William McDaniel.
OTHER TIDBITS: Juan Felipe Peña and Juan Manuel Cabeza Vaca were friends who moved from New Mexico to seek their fortunes in California! They traveled the Old Spanish Trail to Los Angeles, where they happened to encounter General Mariano Vallejo! General Vallejo granted them ten square leagues of Rancho Los Putos (the name coming from the Miwok word “puta,” which means “grassy,” not the Spanish word “puta,” which means “prostitute”) with the condition that they bring people in to settle it! They did, and their cattle ranching endeavour became the property on which Vacaville is located today! 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: Take Pena Adobe Rd interchange on I-80, go NE 0.5 mi on Pena Adobe Rd to Pena Adobe Park Vacaville, CA 95687 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~399mi (643km) — 6.7hrs |
| When should I go? | The park is open from sunrise to sunset, but the adobe is only open on the first Saturday of the month from February through December! |
