Tag Archives: Leonis Adobe

Leonis Adobe
Calabasas
May 28, 2016

On this visit we took Margaret to visit the Leonis Adobe in Calabasas. We have been there before. The site is well laid out and maintained. In addition to the two historic dwellings – the adobe which dates from the mid-19th century and the Plummer House relocated from West Hollywood – there are livestock and plantings typical of what would have been found on the Leonis ranch in the 1880s.

The adobe is furnished with period furnishings and artifacts, some of which are original to the site. The costumed docents are quite helpful and generally well-informed. (Bob was able to explain to one docent that an unusual artifact in the pantry was a butter churn, of atypical design, because his mother had an antique one of the same type.)

As with many historical buildings, the adobe building is not completely wheelchair accessible. We took Margaret around the grounds and into the ground floor of the adobe. Bob went up the steps to see the second-story rooms while Meredith stayed downstairs with Margaret. Much of the site can be seen by a wheelchair patron though, including the outbuildings, with old wagons and farm equipment; the livestock and gardens, as well as the main part of the adobe and the Plummer House, so it was well worth the visit.

We purchased a small bag of hay in the gift shop when we arrived, and fed some of the sheep and goats. Margaret enjoyed both feeding and petting them. We admired the horses and longhorn cattle from a distance; visitors cannot get close enough to touch the larger animals.

The Leonis Adobe Foundation put together the Passport 2 History program, and we have used that booklet and website as a guide to many of our outings. There are over 80 participating museums and historic sites throughout Central and Southern California. A few months ago we misplaced our physical passport, so we bought another one ($3) on this trip.

Admission is free, but donations are encouraged, and we made sure to drop a contribution in the box.

After we had seen all that we wanted to see, we went next-door to the Sagebrush Cantina for lunch. Meredith’s sister Kathleen joined us, and we had a nice time catching up. We all enjoyed our lunches. The menu is predominantly Mexican food, but there are other choices as well. Margaret enjoyed wild mushroom tacos with goat cheese.

Since our visit fell on Memorial Day weekend, we made it a point to stop at the Veterans cemetery in Westwood. After we dropped Margaret off, we stopped for flowers, then visited the grave of Meredith’s stepfather Eli. The entire cemetery had been decorated with miniature flags by each grave; quite a sight waving in the breeze!

Leonis Adobe
Calabasas
July 12, 2014

We spent some time visiting family back East so did not make it up to Los Angeles for a month. In July, Meredith and our youngest daughter took Margaret to the historic Leonis Adobe in Calabasas; Bob missed this particular outing. We have all been to the adobe before. Meredith’s sister Kathleen first suggested it. It is a popular destination for school groups, which we think is how Kathleen first learned of it.

The adobe is named for Miguel Leonis who owned it from sometime in the 1870’s until his death in 1889. The buildings, exhibits, and animals recreate life on a California ranch in the 1880’s.

The adobe is the main building on the site. It is well furnished with period furniture and artifacts. Other buildings on site include the Plummer House, moved there from West Hollywood and known as the oldest house in Hollywood, as well as a windmill, a couple of barns, and other outbuildings. The barns house old wagons and carriages, blacksmith tools, and miscellaneous other items.

The Leonis Adobe grounds are also home to a selection of animals typical of livestock one would have found on a ranch in California in the 1880’s. On this visit we admired the horses and cattle, patted the goats, and visited the fowl.

It was a hot day, and Margaret was dragging a bit. Since the buildings are authentic historic buildings, they are not air conditioned, so perhaps it would have been wiser to save this visit for the winter time. But we managed by using the shade and lingering in the interiors, out of the sun.

There is a large corps of interested and enthusiastic docents. It seems as if every time we turned around there was a docent eager to point something out or explain something. They wear period costumes but, as one docent was at pains to explain, they are not “in character;” that is, they do not pretend to be period characters on the ranch, they function as present day guides and resources. In addition to running a site which is a great destination in itself, the Leonis Adobe association sponsors the Passport 2 History program, a website and booklet with information on a number of historic sites throughout Southern and Central California.

The parking lot is fairly small, but seems to be adequate for the number of visitors. When we went there was a farmer’s market across the street and market shoppers were paying to park in the lot for the adobe, but since we were visiting it we did not have to pay.

Because these are historic buildings, wheelchair access to a few rooms is limited. The museum has made a real effort to add access through ramps where possible, and the docents are helpful.

We ate lunch at the Sagebrush Cantina, right next to the adobe. It is a large restaurant which serves mainly Mexican food. Margaret had a quesadilla; Meredith ordered a (sort of) health oriented soft taco choice. All of us enjoyed our food.