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Trustee Emeritus Award for Excellence in the Stewardship of Historic Sites
In November 2000,
the National Trust for Historic Preservation presented this prestigious
award to The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America "for
acquiring, restoring, and interpreting a collection of historic properties
that offer invaluable opportunities to experience the rich variety of
America's heritage."
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NSCDA in California Museum Properties
The NSCDA in California has four museum properties projects: the
Octagon House in San Francisco, the
Jose Eusebio Bronda Adobe in
Salinas, La Casa de Estudillo in San Diego and the
Machado-Stewart
Adobe in San Diego.
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OCTAGON
HOUSE (1861)
Address:
2645 Gough Street (at Union Street), San Francisco, CA 94123
Telephone:
(415) 441-7512
Open:
Second Sunday,
Second and Fourth Thursdays:
Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Closed:
Legal holidays and month of January
Directions:
From Golden Gate Bridge, go east
on Lombard, turn south on Gough. From downtown south, go north on
Van Ness, turn west on Union for two blocks.
Parking:
A public parking garage is 2 1/2
blocks west on the north side of Union.
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Photograph by Erik Kvalsvik
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Octagon House, with a view of the
Golden Gate from its cupola, was built only a few years after the Gold
Rush. The house was a family residence until the late 1920s, when
it was acquired by a utility company. Its purchase by the California
Society in 1952, for one dollar, and subsequent restoration in 1953,
saved this charming landmark for future generations. Octagonal in
shape, the exterior remains essentially in its original condition, while
the interior has been extensively modified for use as California Society
headquarters and a hospitable setting for social occasions.
The collection of American furnishings
includes a Baltimore sideboard and a Salem secretary-desk, both dating
from the Federal period, portraits, samplers, silver, pewter, and ceramics.
The library emphasizes genealogy and the decorative arts. Of great
interest is a remarkable collection of documents bearing signatures of
54 of the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Visitors may rest in Octagon House's
delightful, award-winning garden.
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
SAN FRANCISCO LANDMARK NO. 17 |
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JOSE EUSEBIO BORONDA ADOBE
(1840)
Address:
333 Boronda Road, Salinas, CA 93901
Telephone:
(831) 747-8005
Open:
Weekdays:
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m
Website: http://www.caohwy.com/j/joeuboad.htm
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The "new adobe casa" that ranchero
Eusebio Boronda built in the late 1840's incorporates several features
of the New England-Hispanic architectural style now called Monterey Colonial.
Boronda drew his inspiration from the Monterey home of a successful Yankee
trader, T. O. Larkin.
The property remained in the Boronda
family until the 1930's, then changed hands several times and was finally
acquired by the Historical Society in 1973.
The latter carried out a meticulous
restoration along the guidelines set by a visiting Smithsonian expert,
only to be faced with a repeat performance following a severe earthquake.
Today the walls are supported by hidden steel.
Although the three-room adobe has
been used for historical educational displays, it never became a true museum
until 1995 when the Monterey County Committee of The National Society of
The Colonial Dames of America in California offered to undertake the task
of selecting period (1845-1860) furnishings. Choices of suitable
Mexican wares, locally made pieces and the simpler imports brought by trading
ships have been made, avoiding inappropriate Victoriana. A few Boronda
family heirlooms have been added to the collection.
STATE HISTORICAL LANDMARK #87
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LA CASA DE ESTUDILLO
(c. 1820)
Address: Old Town, San Diego State Historic
Park
San Diego, CA 92110
Telephone:
(619)
220-5422 Ext. 5426
Open:
Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m.
Closed:
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New
Year's Day.
Directions:
From I-5, take the Old Town exit.
Old Town is closed to vehicular traffic; park in the lot at Twiggs Street
and San Diego Avenue. La Casa de Estudillo is directly across from
the Visitors Center.
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Photograph by Erik Kvalsvik
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José Antonio de Estudillo
began construction of the thirteen-room U-shaped casa in the late 1820's.
The house was built of four-foot thick, whitewashed adobe bricks and was
occupied by the Estudillo family until 1887.
The restored adobe, now owned and
operated by the State of California, was furnished by the San Diego County
Committee of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the
State of California and features Spanish and early American relics, period
furnishings and a charming garden.
NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
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MACHADO-STEWART ADOBE
(1830)
Address:
Old Town, San Diego State Historical
Park, San Diego, CA 92110
Telephone:
(619)
220-5423
Open:
Daily from 10:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m.
Closed:
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New
Years Day.
Directions:
From I-5. take the Old Town Exit.
Old Town is closed to vehicular traffic; park in the lot at Twiggs Street
and San Diego Avenue. The Machado-Stewart Adobe is on Mason Street
one block from La Casa de Estudillo.
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| The two-room adobe of José
Manuel and Maria Machado was built in 1830, after eight of their nine children
were grown and married. Rosa, the youngest daughter, married Jack
Stewart and they lived there until their deaths. Richard Henry Dana
described a visit to the historic adobe in Two Years before the Mast.
It
is one of the oldest adobe buildings in Old Town.
The house has been restored by the California Park and
Recreation Department and was furnished by the San Diego County Committee
of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of
California.
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
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