Did you know that California’s oldest neighborhood is just a train ride away from Los Angeles?
The Los Rios Historic District in San Juan Capistrano is known for the historic Los Rios Street, which is lined with original adobe homes from the late 1700s. Mission San Juan Capistrano is the historic center of the city, which also makes for an interesting stop for history lovers.
Keep reading to learn more about this ancient piece of local history.
History of San Juan Capistrano and Los Rios Street
Founded in 1776 by Junípero Serra, Mission San Juan Capistrano was the seventh of California’s Spanish missions, a system that subjected Indigenous communities, including the Acjachemen, to severe hardship and loss.
The town grew around the mission, with Los Rios Street developing alongside it. Once stretching to today’s Dana Point Harbor, the street now spans just 600 feet. Of the original adobe homes, three dating back about 230 years remain, while most others were built in the early 1900s by European immigrants.
Historic homes in the Los Rios Historic District
- Montanez Adobe (31745 Los Rios Street): Built around 1794, this adobe once hosted religious services and now serves as a small self-guided museum. An original 1896 jail cell stands next door.
- Rios Adobe (31781 Los Rios Street): Constructed in 1794 by Santiago Rios, this is the oldest continuously inhabited home in the western U.S., still occupied by his descendants.
- Silvas Adobe (31861 Los Rios Street): Originally built in the 1790s, this one-room adobe was rebuilt in 1868 by Jose Maria Silvas.
- Lupe Combs House (26711 Verdugo Street): Built in 1878 and moved here in 1882, this former constable’s home later served as a store, post office, and gift shop.
- Ramos House (31752 Los Rios Street): Built in 1881, this former family home became a cozy cafe in 1995.
- Garcia/Pryor Residence, O’Neill Museum (31831 Los Rios Street): Built in the late 1800s by saloon owner Jose Garcia, this home now operates as a $1 public museum.
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 1 hour and 15 minutes.