Pomona city feature
About this landmark
A Spanish Colonial adobe from 1854 in Pomona's early history.
The Adobe de Palomares is located at 491 East Arrow Highway, at the intersection of Arrow Highway and Orange Grove in Pomona. The one-story, T-shaped structure was built by Don Ygnacio and Concepción Palomares and features 13 rooms arranged with two wings extending north and south, meeting at a central section with a living room and two large bedrooms. The walls are adobe brick, with milled lumber used for floors and ceilings. The building is designated as California Historical Landmark No. 372.
The rancho house from California's Mexican period
Built between 1850 and 1854, the adobe served as the center of the 22,000-acre Rancho San José, which was granted to Ygnacio Palomares and Ricardo Vejar in 1837 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado. The structure, which measured 13 rooms in its T-shaped design, was built with adobe brick walls and milled lumber for the floors and ceilings. The building became known as the "House of Hospitality" because of the frequent guests it welcomed. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 3, 1971, receiving California Historical Landmark status as well.
The adobe was abandoned in the 1880s and left exposed to the elements for decades, suffering from lack of maintenance and weathering. The City of Pomona acquired the building in the 1930s to preserve this regional heritage. In 1939, the structure underwent a comprehensive restoration effort. Approximately 70 Works Progress Administration workers undertook the project, manufacturing roughly 25,000 new adobe bricks on-site to replace damaged sections. The restoration cost $54,000 and was completed in December 1939, preserving the structure for future generations.
A museum open to the public today
Since 1940, the adobe has been open to the public as a museum, operated by the Historical Society of Pomona Valley. The structure now provides visitors with a glimpse into the region's Spanish Colonial heritage and the domestic life of the 19th-century rancho period. Today the building is open on select Sundays only, with specific dates and tour schedules published on the Historical Society's website. Admission is $5 per person, and reservations are required to ensure proper guided tours of the historic structure. Parking is available at the adjacent Palomares Park for visitor convenience.
Visitors interested in touring the Adobe de Palomares can contact the Historical Society of Pomona Valley at (909) 623-2198 or via email at [email protected] for information about upcoming tour dates and to make reservations. The adobe continues to serve as a significant historical landmark and educational resource for understanding Pomona's early history.
Insurance connection: Earthquake coverage for historic structures
Homeowners with older structures like the Palomares adobe should understand that California Earthquake Authority policies offer coverage including dwelling protection up to the homeowners policy limit, personal property coverage ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, and additional living expense coverage with no deductible for temporary housing during repairs. Deductible options range from 5 percent to 25 percent, though homes built before 1980 on non-slab foundations must accept a minimum 15 percent deductible. Earthquake coverage must be purchased through the same insurer that provides the residential homeowners policy. Eligibility and coverage limits depend on the individual policy. The issued policy controls.
Primary sources: Wikipedia article on Ygnacio Palomares Adobe and Historical Society of Pomona Valley official page.
Insurance context is general information only. The issued policy and its endorsements settle coverage.