Avila Adobe

The Avila Adobe, the oldest house in Los Angeles

On Olvera Street, the Avila Adobe is considered the oldest standing residence in Los Angeles. This adobe house tells the daily life of the city in the Mexican era. The Los Angeles audio-guided tour stops here to evoke the way of life of the city's first inhabitants, long before the skyscrapers.

The house of an 1818 ranchero

Built around 1818 by Francisco José Ávila, a prominent ranchero who was mayor of Los Angeles, the house is among the first in the Pueblo to face directly onto the street. Built of adobe, sun-dried earth brick, it illustrates the domestic architecture of Mexican California. Restored and turned into a museum, it lets you discover a period interior, furnished as in the time of its first occupants.

What to see

Inside, you discover furnished rooms that recreate the life of a well-off family of Mexican California, around a typical inner courtyard. The visit immerses the visitor in the daily life of the Los Angeles of the origins, far from the city's modern image. It is a precious stop to understand the Hispanic roots of the city, in the heart of Olvera Street.

Practical information

The Avila Adobe lies on Olvera Street, in the El Pueblo district, in the centre of Los Angeles, reachable on foot. The house-museum can be visited; entry is generally free, but opening hours may vary by day and season. It is best to check them before coming to make the most of the visit.

When was the Avila Adobe built?

Around 1818, by Francisco José Ávila, a ranchero and former mayor of Los Angeles; it is the oldest standing residence in the city.

Can you visit the Avila Adobe?

Yes, the house has become a museum with a period interior; entry is generally free, but hours vary, to be checked before coming.