The Los Rios Historic District in San Juan Capistrano is the oldest neighborhood in California, known for the historic Los Rios Street, which is 600 feet long and lined with original adobe homes from the late 1700s.
The storied city is centered around Mission San Juan Capistrano, which makes for a fascinating day trip for history lovers and only requires a quick drive or train ride down to southern Orange County. Here’s everything to know about this ancient piece of local history.
History of San Juan Capistrano and Los Rios Street
In 1776, Spanish missionary Junípero Serra established Mission San Juan Capistrano, the seventh of California’s 21 Spanish missions. The mission system forced tens of thousands of Indigenous people, including the Acjachemen—whom the Spanish renamed the Juaneños—into harsh conditions under colonial rule, resulting in widespread suffering and loss.
San Juan Capistrano developed outward from the mission, with Los Rios Street emerging right alongside it. Two centuries ago, the street extended all the way to what is now Dana Point Harbor. Today, however, Los Rios Street is only about 600 feet long, stretching between Del Obispo Street in the south to La Zanja Street in the north.
The area originally featured around 40 adobe houses, separated by dirt paths and marked by large trees instead of fences. Three of the original adobe homes—dating back roughly 230 years—still stand, while most of the remaining houses were built by European immigrants around the early 1900s.
Historic homes in the Los Rios Historic District
- Montanez Adobe (31745 Los Rios Street): This historic adobe home, built around 1794, once belonged to Doña Polonia Montañez and served as a place for religious services when the mission was unavailable. Today, it operates as a small self-guided museum open to visitors. Next door, you can also view an original jail cell dating back to 1896.
- Rios Adobe (31781 Los Rios Street): Spanish soldier Santiago Rios constructed the Rios Adobe in 1794, and remarkably, his descendants still reside there today. It holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously inhabited home in the western United States.
- Silvas Adobe (31861 Los Rios Street): Originally constructed in the 1790s, this one-room adobe was later rebuilt by Jose Maria Silvas in 1868.
- Lupe Combs House (26711 Verdugo Street): Built in 1878 in Forester City, this home was relocated to San Juan Capistrano in 1882. It was once the residence of town constable Jack Combs before being repurposed over the years as a general store, candy shop, post office, and gift shop.
- Ramos House (31752 Los Rios Street): Constructed in 1881, this historic board and batten house was once home to the Aguilar and Ramos families. In 1995, it was transformed into a charming café, which continues to operate to this day.
- Garcia/Pryor Residence, O’Neill Museum (31831 Los Rios Street): Saloon owner Jose Garcia constructed this historic home sometime between 1870 and 1880. Today, it operates as a small public museum with an entry fee of just $1.
In addition to the historic homes and buildings in the Los Rios Historic District, visitors will find plenty more to explore in California’s oldest neighborhood. Some more popular stops include Zoomars Petting Zoo, The Tea House on Los Rios, and the River Street Marketplace.
Visiting San Juan Capistrano from Los Angeles
🚗 By car: You can reach San Juan Capistrano by car via I-5 in about 1-1.5 hours from L.A., depending on traffic.
🚂 By train: The Metrolink Orange County line gets you from Union Station to San Juan Capistrano station in an hour and 15 minutes.