List of the oldest buildings in California

This article attempts to list the oldest buildings in California, including structures constructed during the Spanish rule in California, the Mexican rule in California, and since the American Conquest of California.

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

List
Structure Image Location First Built Notes
Santa María de Óvila Chapterhouse
at Abbey of New Clairvaux		 Vina 1181 Ancient Spanish Cistercian monastery built in Trillo, Spain. Its chapterhouse was purchased in 1931 by William Randolph Hearst and brought to California. Oldest extant structure in California.[1]
Mission San Diego de Alcalá San Diego 1769 First Spanish mission in Alta California & oldest building in City of San Diego.
Mission San Francisco de Asís San Francisco 1776 Oldest building in City of San Francisco.
Mission San Juan Capistrano San Juan Capistrano 1776 One of the oldest surviving buildings in California.
Plaza de Los Ángeles Los Angeles 1780 Oldest plaza (city square) in California.
Presidio of Santa Barbara Santa Barbara 1782 Oldest surviving military structure in California.
Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo Monterey 1791-94 Oldest cathedral in the United States & oldest stone building in California.
Peralta Adobe San José 1797 Oldest building in City of San José.
Plaza de César Chávez San José 1797 Oldest plaza (city square) in Northern California.
Fort Ross Jenner 1812 Only Russian colonial settlement in California.
Ávila Adobe Los Angeles 1818 Oldest building in the City of Los Angeles.
Old Monterey Customhouse Monterey 1827 Oldest government building in California.
Rancho Petaluma Adobe Petaluma 1835–1857 Largest building constructed during Mexican rule in California.
California's First Theatre Monterey 1846-47 Oldest theater in California.
Benicia Capitol Benicia 1852 Oldest surviving capitol in California.
Mariposa County Courthouse Mariposa 1854 Oldest courthouse in California.
Point Pinos Lighthouse Pacific Grove 1855 Oldest lighthouse on the West Coast.
National Exchange Hotel Nevada City 1856 Oldest continuously operated hotel on the West Coast.[2]
Buena Vista Winery Sonoma 1857 Oldest winery in California.
Bridgeport Covered Bridge Penn Valley 1862 Oldest bridge in California & longest wooden covered bridge in the world.[3]
San Buenaventura Pier Ventura 1870 Oldest pier in California.
Old Chronicle Building San Francisco 1890 First skyscraper in California.[4]
Minor Theater Arcata 1914 Oldest purpose-built movie theater in the United States.[5][6]

See also

References
  1. Kahn, Eve M. (December 2007). "Reconstruction: A New Chapter". Traditional Building. Restore Media. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  2. "California Landmark 899: National Hotel in Nevada City, California". Noehill.com. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  3. The Nevada County, California website Archived September 8, 2012, at Archive.today that claims Bridgeport Covered Bridge has a longer span than the Old Blenheim Bridge had, also claims it is a National Historic Landmark. While the National Historic Landmark search system Archived 2008-07-10 at the Wayback Machine does not report on the existence of this bridge as a National Historic Landmark. It is a California Historical Landmark and listed at the National Register of Historic Places.
  4. The Commonwealth - August/September 2019
  5. The Minor Theater: The Oldest Movies-Only Theater in the United States Archived May 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  6. The Minor as a Major Player; Historic moviehouse alive with vivid color and rich soundfield Archived February 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
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