National Register of Historic Places

Leonis Adobe

Calabasas, Los Angeles County, California
Listed
May 28, 1975
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
75000433

About this property

The Leonis Adobe is a historic adobe located in what is now Calabasas, California. One of the oldest surviving private residences in Los Angeles County and one of the oldest surviving buildings in the San Fernando Valley, it was built in 1844 and was occupied by the wealthy rancher Miguel Leonis (October 20, 1824 – September 20, 1889) until his death. Afterward, the property was the subject of a legal dispute between his common-law wife, Espiritu Chijulla (1836 – May 10, 1906); heirs; and a daughter born out of wedlock. The dispute lasted more than 15 years in the courts. In 1961, the adobe had fallen victim to vandalism, and its owner applied for a permit to raze the structure and erect a supermarket in its place. Preservationists succeeded in having the adobe declared Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #1 in 1962, saving it from the wrecking ball at the last minute. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The adobe was restored and is operated as a living museum.

Location

23537 Calabasas Rd.
Calabasas, Los Angeles County, California
34.15729, -118.63950

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Leonis Adobe

This page lists Leonis Adobe. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Leonis Adobe report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Palmer, Minnie Hill, House
Industrial
7.3 mi
Adamson House
Industrial
8.8 mi
Stevens House
Industrial
9.1 mi
Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village
Listed
9.2 mi
Rancho El Encino
Colonial
9.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Leonis Adobe listed on the National Register?

Leonis Adobe was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 28, 1975.

What type of historic resource is Leonis Adobe?

Leonis Adobe is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Leonis Adobe?

The period of significance for Leonis Adobe is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Leonis Adobe?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Leonis Adobe will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Los Angeles County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Los Angeles County.

Explore Los AngelesCounty ›

More historic places in California

Browse all historic places in California.

View Californiahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

California history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Californiahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Leonis Adobe will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report