Peralta Adobe-Fallon House Historic Site

175 W St John St, San Jose, CA 95110, United States

The Peralta Adobe — Fallon House Historic Site is located in the heart of downtown San José, home to restaurants , bars and unique vendors. Adjacent to San Pedro Market, Peralta Adobe Plaza offers outdoor seating where you can enjoy a morning coffee, a delicious lunch or a dinner or cocktail evening concert.

The Peralta Adobe-Fallon House is the oldest building still standing in San Jose, northern California. The adobe was built in 1797 and is named after the most famous resident, Luis María Peralta. Manuel González was probably the original builder.

Manuel González (Apache Indian), his wife, and their five children accompanied the Spanish Anza Party to California in 1776. He was one of the founders of the Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe, the first municipal government in California, founded in 1777. This was the second house in which González lived, and the first site was unsustainable due to the winter floods.

González died in 1804 and in 1808 the adobe went to Luís María Peralta. Peralta was a sergeant in the Spanish Army, commissioner of the San José Pueblo, and owner of the East Bay Rancho San Antonio, one of the largest ranchos in Alta California. Peralta divided the house into two rooms, a porch, a kitchen and a chimney. He died in August of 1851, leaving the adobe to his two daughters.

The house was owned by María Josefa (daughter of Peralta) until July 1862, María Dolores until 1866, and Balthazar Peralta (grandson of Peralta). During the 1870s and 1880s, Zefiro Bastiani, Giovanni Spinetti and later Lorenzo Scatena used the adobe as a storage facility. In 1949, in order to make way for the construction of the Lusardi building on the adjacent lot, Guiseppe Bacchio had removed 17 inches from the northwest corner of the adobe.

Purchased by the City of San Jose in 1966, the adobe building was restored and the surrounding park was completed in 1976. Peralta Adobe is San Jose ‘s Historic Landmark # 1, California Historic Landmark # 866, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, the adobe was the first site to be certified as part of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.

The Peralta Adobe is a historic house museum, which can be visited by appointment. The building covers an area of 20 feet by 41 feet (6 x 12.4 m) and has two connecting rooms of approximately the same size. The walls are about 2 feet (61 cm) thick and are made of adobe blocks 22 inches by 11 inches by 4 inches (56 x 28 x 10 cm). The adobe is furnished inside, as it was 200 years ago. Outside is an outdoor fireplace oven (horno).

The Adobe and the Thomas and Carmel Fallon House are located within the Peralta Adobe & Fallon House Historic Site on San Pedro Square in downtown San Jose, run by local non-profit History San José. The Fallon House is located across the street from the adobe, and was built in the Victorian style in 1855.

This amazing historical landmark is just one of the many must-see landmarks you don’t want to miss in San Jose, California:

• Luis Maria Peralta Adobe
• César Chávez Family Home 
• History Park
• James Lick Mansion
• Winchester Mystery House
• St. James Park – San Jose History Walk Marker #23
• Southern Pacific Railroad Steam Locomotive #1215 
• Olympic Black Power Statue  

All of these wonderful landmarks are located just a short distance from our location located at 3880 South Bascom Avenue in San Jose, California! Stop by for a visit anytime!