Jill's Journal: Growing up in California, I never thought it had much history – compared, that is, to Europe or the ancient civilizations or even the East Coast – so it’s fun to discover a little on this journey. Today, the girls and I made the little trip to San Miguel, where “The Adobe” was built in 1835 using Indian labor. A two-story hacienda was pretty impressive for those days.
The Rios-Caledonia Adobe was originally part of the San Miguel Mission. In 1868, it was converted into a stagecoach stop, inn, and saloon. The Dalton Brothers and Frank and Jesse James were said to have stayed here (we’ve visited so many places who claim to have housed these outlaws -- boy, they sure got around!). That road barely visible in the left of the photo was the original dirt stagecoach road. When cars arrived, it was paved (in 1915) and became the original Highway 101 until the freeway was rerouted to the other side of the structure in 1931.
When the railroad and automobiles officially signaled an end to the days of the stagecoach, the Adobe was used as an upholstery shop, post office, and elementary school. Finally it became a private residence for a ranch and later a dairy farm. Today, the rooms in this grand old structure are filled with furnishings to recreate life in the home, plus its tavern and Wells Fargo banking days.
The girls especially loved the cacti garden. Here they are fascinated by one that has yet to grow its prickles!
Jill's Journal: Growing up in California, I never thought it had much history – compared, that is, to Europe or the ancient civilizations or even the East Coast – so it’s fun to discover a little on this journey. Today, the girls and I made the little trip to San Miguel, where “The Adobe” was built in 1835 using Indian labor. A two-story hacienda was pretty impressive for those days. 
The Rios-Caledonia Adobe was originally part of the San Miguel Mission. In 1868, it was converted into a stagecoach stop, inn, and saloon. The Dalton Brothers and Frank and Jesse James were said to have stayed here (we’ve visited so many places who claim to have housed these outlaws -- boy, they sure got around!). That road barely visible in the left of the photo was the original dirt stagecoach road. When cars arrived, it was paved (in 1915) and became the original Highway 101 until the freeway was rerouted to the other side of the structure in 1931. 
When the railroad and automobiles officially signaled an end to the days of the stagecoach, the Adobe was used as an upholstery shop, post office, and elementary school. Finally it became a private residence for a ranch and later a dairy farm. Today, the rooms in this grand old structure are filled with furnishings to recreate life in the home, plus its tavern and Wells Fargo banking days. 
The girls especially loved the cacti garden. Here they are fascinated by one that has yet to grow its prickles!
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