The Dominguez Adobe is California Historical Landmark Number 152 and in 1976 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. The Rancho San Pedro and the Dominguez Adobe Museum are truly unique treasures in Los Angeles.

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Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum

California’s State Historic Landmark No.152
National Register of Historic Places

The mission of the Friends of Rancho San Pedro is to preserve and increase community awareness of early California history as it relates to the Dominguez family, homestead adobe and the Rancho San Pedro, the first Spanish land grant in California. This is accomplished through educational programs and the operation of the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum.

Lastest News

Summer Tours

Summer is upon us. Don’t forget to come to the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum. Our tours are offered free of charge to the public on Wednesdays and Sundays at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. If you have a group of 10 or more, just give us a call and we’ll set up a private tour for you. We hope to see you soon!

Fall Rancho Activities

Sign up now for the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum Fall activities. On September 21st, come learn how to make your very own family rancho using everyday craft items such as clay, popsicle sticks and even sugar cubes. On December 7, join us for an interactive workshop where people are taught how to make their own stained glass art piece. On December 14, come meet the Don Manuel, Maria Engracia and the Dominguez Sisters as they lead you through their lives in the Dominguez Adobe. You’ll also meet some of their friends as they visit the adobe in the holiday season. For more information on these activities, check out Events.

Fall Docent Training

The Fall Docent training will start in September. Learn more about the fascinating history of the Rancho San Pedro and the role of the Dominguez family in the development of Southern California by becoming a Museum Docent. These volunteers conduct public and school tours to acquaint visitors with this urban oasis of beauty and historic significance. Docents enjoy special educational events and opportunities to socialize with fellow history lovers in addition to the satisfaction of providing a valuable community service. For more details, see Docent Training Sessions.

Past News

11/19/07

New Museum Executive Director Hired

Alison Bruesehoff brings over 10 years of museum experience to her new position as Museum Executive Director of the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum. Her last directorship at the Forest Lawn Museum afforded her the opportunity to oversee the successful renovation of the museum temporary and permanent exhibit spaces, grounds and storage facilities. Ms. Bruesehoff also served as project manager for the publication of two books and as Executive Producer of a video that explored 100 years of Forest Lawn history through archived photos and extensive historical research. Prior to joining Forest Lawn, she was the Director of Collections Management at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage. Ms. Bruesehoff holds a Master’s Degree in Museum Studies from George Washington University in Washington, DC and an MBA from Woodbury University in Southern California. In addition to her professional interests, she also serves on two not-for-profit boards: Dubnoff Center for Child Development and the Variety Boys and Girls Club. Alison Bruesehoff looks forward to contributing her academic and professional expertise to the success of the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum. Her first priority is to develop and produce new and exciting programming and events that will showcase the facility’s significance to the community.

7/9/2006

Family Reunion hosted at Dominguez Rancho

A family reunion including the Carson, Del Amo and Watson descendents of Manuel Dominguez was held on Saturday, July 8, 2006 from 11:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on the upper and lower grounds of the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum. 350 family members attended the event. Everyone took guided tours of the Rancho and caught up on their current lives and the lives of their ancestors. From learning how to lasso to racing each other on the grassy grounds to flying a kite, it was a fun filled day of activities. Family members traced their lineage on the Dominguez family tree and listened to Manuel and Maria Dominguez (played by re-enactors) talk about their history and family. Mariachis played and family ate and chatted with each other while a banner welcoming the Dominguez heirs flew over the Rancho. It was indeed a wonderful family reunion.

Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum Welcoming Banner Dominguez Rancho Adobe on reunion day Docents at the family reunion The mariachis Sound of mariachis Families relax together Family members find their names The Dominguez family tree Kite flying Learning to lasso Manuel and Maria Dominguez Manuel and Maria Dominguez talk The current family

8/23/2005

Dominguez Rancho on Channel 28

The Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum was featured on the Life & Times program on Tuesday, August 23, 2005, at 6:30 p.m. on KCET Channel 28, Public Television for the Los Angeles area. Viewers were able to visit the beautiful home of Manuel Dominguez built in 1826 as headquarters for the 75,000-acre Rancho San Pedro, the first Spanish land grant in California. The Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum is located at 18127 South Alameda Street, Rancho Dominguez, CA, near the cities of Carson and Compton.

8/19/2005

Rancho San Pedro Archival Project Offers Treasure Trove to Future Researchers

California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) obtained a grant from The National Historical Publications and Records Commission entitled the Early Los Angeles/Rancho San Pedro Cataloging History Project. The funding is for the arrangement and description of 285 feet of CSUHD archival material relating to the Dominguez Family lands and companies. The project is further described in an article from the Daily Breeze newspaper.

1/10/2005

National Cowboy Museum to Induct Early Spanish Land Grant Heir

The late Don Manuel Dominguez was recognized during induction ceremonies into the Hall of Great Westerners during the 44th annual Western Heritage Awards, April 16, 2005, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum® in Oklahoma City… Read Full Press Release.