36 Old Ruins to Explore in California

Checkout places to visit in California

California

The most populous U.S. state and the third-largest by area.

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Old Ruins to Explore in California

Mission San José Park

Mission San José is a Spanish mission located in the present-day city of Fremont, California. It was founded on June 11, 1797, by the Franciscan order and was the fourteenth Spanish mission established in California. The old mission church remains in use as a chapel of Saint Joseph Catholic Church, a parish of the Diocese of Oakland. The museum also features a visitor center, museum, and slide show telling the history of the mission.

Mission San Juan Capistrano, Landmark, Chapel, Museum and Gardens

This is the Birthplace of Orange County. It was founded more than two hundred years ago as the 7th of 21 missions statewide and features a chapel still standing where Saint Serra once celebrated Mass. Today, it is a monument to California’s multi-cultural history, embracing its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and European heritage. The mission was damaged over the years by a number of natural disasters, but restoration and renovation efforts date from around 1910.

Mission Santa Clara de Asís 1777

Mission Santa Clara de Asís is a Spanish mission in the city of Santa Clara, California. The mission, which was the eighth in California, was founded on January 12, 1777 by the Franciscan order. Named for Saint Clare of Assisi, who founded the order of the Poor Clares and was an early companion of St. Francis of Assisi, this was the first California mission to be named in honor of a woman.

Niles Canyon Railway

Niles Canyon Railway is a living history museum interpreting the importance of our heritage railroads in the development of California and the nation. The railroad is operated and maintained by the Pacific Locomotive Association which preserves, restores and operates historic railroad equipment. The NCRy features public excursions with both steam and diesel locomotives along a well-preserved portion of the First Transcontinental Railroad.

Old Mission Santa Barbara 1786

Mission Santa Barbara is a Spanish mission in Santa Barbara, California. Often referred to as the ‘Queen of the Missions,’ it was founded by Padre Fermín Lasuén. Mission Santa Barbara, like other California missions, was built as part of a broader effort to consolidate the Spanish claim on Alta California in the face of threats from rival empires.

Old Town

Old Town San Diego features acres of Mexican heritage, historical sites, colorful shops, eclectic restaurants, a theater and tons more to explore.Old Town has over 30 restaurants, most with great outdoor dining, and a quaint atmosphere plus there are more than 75 unique places to shop. This historic area is situated next to the State Park with 32 historic sites and shops.

Olivas Adobe Historic Park

The Olivas Adobe in Ventura, California is an adobe structure built in 1837 by Raymundo Olivas on the north bank of the Santa Clara River about a mile from the estuary where it flows into the Santa Barbara Channel.He and his wife and their 21 children lived here until 1899. It later became Max Fleischmann's hunting lodge . After his death, his foundation donated the land and the house to the City of Ventura.

Scotty's Castle

Scotty's Castle is a two-story Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival style villa located in the Grapevine Mountains of northern Death Valley in Death Valley National Park, California, US.The Johnsons' original furnishings and clothing can still be seen today. The National Park Service gives guided tours of Scotty's Castle for a fee.An underground mystery tour is also available for those wishing to see the inner workings of the building.

St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church

The St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church is part of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America. It is built on the presumed location of St. Sava's grave. His coffin had been moved from Mileševa Monastery to Belgrade. The coffin was placed on a pyre and burnt in 1595 by Ottoman Grand Vizier Sinan Pasha.

Stanford Mansion

A historic mansion and California State Park in Sacramento, California, which serves as the official reception center for the Californian government and as one of the official workplaces of the Governor of California. A recent restoration has recaptured the mansion's Victorian grandeur. Serving as the governor's office prior to the opening of the State Capitol, today it is the State's official location for diplomatic and protocol receptions.

The Gamble House

The Gamble House is an iconic American Craftsman home in Pasadena, California, designed by the architectural firm Greene and Greene. It is is the finest example of early 20th-century Craftsman architecture. It is preserved with all of its original furnishings which were also designed by the architects. It is today a National Historic Landmark, a California Historical Landmark, and open to the public for tours and events.

The Palace Of Fine Arts

This is a monumental structure originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in order to exhibit works of art presented there. Situated in the Marina District of San Francisco, California. In addition to hosting art exhibitions, it remains a popular attraction for tourists and locals.

The Stow House

The Stow House was once the headquarters of Rancho La Patera, on the original Rancho La Goleta. It is now the headquarters of Goleta Historical Society which preserves and interprets the history of the Goleta Valley. The house museum displays family photographs and furniture, with stories of Sherman and Ida Stow and their descendants.

War Memorial Opera House

The War Memorial Opera House was built as a monument to San Francisco's dead from World War I. It has been the home of the San Francisco Opera since opening night in 1932. It was the site of the San Francisco Conference, the first assembly of the newly organized the United Nations in April 1945. The artists who have performed on its stage are as legendary as the building itself. The theater hosts more than sixty performances of nine operas annually.

Wassama Round House | State Historic Park

The Wassama Round House State Historic Park is in the Sierra Nevada foothills, in Madera County of central California. It preserves the traditional meeting place of the Southern Sierra Miwok people. Here, ancient customs of local Native California Indians are honored and passed down to younger generations.The Wassama Roundhouse is a reconstruction built in 1985 upon the location of four previous such houses.

Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

Wildrose Charcoal Kilns would probably be one of the most visited attractions in Death Valley if they were not in such a remote location.The kilns were built 7 miles out on Wildrose Rd which is mostly paved with a well maintained gravel stretch at the end of this adventurous trip. These kilns produced charcoal for the Modock Mine smelter about 20 miles to the west.The kilns closed after only three years of use. This may be the best-preserved examples of charcoal kilns in the West.

Map of Old Ruins to explore in California