Rancho Camulos - Grounds

Grounds

There are fifteen buildings open to the public as part of the Rancho Camulos Museum, all of which were built before 1930 and are still in their original locations. They are mostly built in Spanish Colonial or Mission Revival styles (the latter is derived from the former), but later buildings were done in differing architectural styles, more representing the period in which they were built. Landscaping features such as lawns, flower gardens, ornamental trees, and walkways separate the residential areas from the working portions of the ranch.

The main adobe, also called the Ygnacio del Valle adobe, is a 10,000 square foot (929 m²), twenty-room, U-shaped structure. When initially constructed in 1853, it was an L-shaped four-room house connected with an external corredor (as opposed to an interior hallway), as is typical of the Spanish Colonial style. It is unusual for its time period because around this time, the Monterey style was in vogue, as is evidenced by contemporaneous buildings in Santa Barbara. Los Alamos Ranch House in Santa Barbara County, and Rancho Guajome Adobe and Las Flores Adobe in San Diego County, all National Historic Landmarks, are built in a similar vein.

The house expanded in several phases. In 1861 before the Del Valle family moved here permanently three additional rooms were added as well as a free-standing cocina (kitchen). A basement was installed under the new rooms as well. In the 1870s, another wing was added perpendicular to the 1861 attachment. Finally some time after 1895, one more room was added to the new wing, as well as a breezeway to the kitchen, completing the current shape. Further remodeling done after this time was to the interior only.

The basement of the house initially served as the wine storage area, but in 1867, a one-and-a-half-story brick winery was constructed. After 1900, when wine grapes were no longer grown commercially, this building served as a storage room. Rübel later converted it to a museum for Ramona visitors, complete with Del Valle family artifacts. Currently it is used for farm equipment and automobile storage.

To the west of the main house is a large California Black Walnut (Juglans californica) tree that was most likely planted by Juventino del Valle in the 1860s. It measures 25 feet (7.6 m) in circumference and its branches spread out almost half an acre (2,000 m²). It is believed to be the largest Black Walnut tree in the area.

The wooden chapel was constructed around 1867, replacing a makeshift chapel that had been set up in 1861. After the secularization of the missions, this chapel became known as the "lost mission", the only place of worship between Mission San Fernando and Mission San Buenaventura. Directly to the northwest of the chapel is a bell structure containing two bells on a freestanding frame, which were used to call worshipers to Mass. These were cast at Kodiak, Alaska, and one had previously been used at Mission San Fernando. A third bell was removed by one of the Del Valle daughters and is missing.

The exact dates of construction of the barn, gas station, and bunkhouse are unknown, but the American Craftsman style of architecture indicates it was between 1910 to 1916. The barn is located to the northwest of the living quarters, in the main work area. The gas station and bunkhouse are not depicted on the map.

The small adobe, next to the highway, was built by Nachito del Valle. This Spanish Colonial Revial house was constructed around 1920 and was damaged severely in the 1994 earthquake. After its reconstruction, it will serve as the museum's visitor center.

The schoolhouse, constructed in 1930, was the last to be built on the property. It was built by Rübel for his and his bookkeeper's families and designed to match the main adobe.

There are few buildings left on the north side of the highway. The most notable are the wooden Southern Pacific saltbox-style section house and workers' bunkhouse, both built in 1887. A train depot and post office both used to exist, but have been torn down. Finally, three farmworkers' bungalows, built by the Del Valle family in 1916, sit west of the section house.