Simi Adobe/Strathearn House Photo courtesy of Simi Valley Historical Society

Spanish land grant El Rancho Simi was awarded to Santiago Pico and Luis Peña in 1795. Santiago Pico constructed a large adobe dwelling in the early 19th century where his family lived until 1842. Archeological investigation has revealed that the site of El Rancho Simi was once the location of a Chumash Indian village. In 1842, the 92,000 acre ranch and adobe was acquired by cattle rancher Don Jose de la Guerra y Noriega. During the 1880s, the adobe was occupied by the Jauregues--a family of French Basque sheepherders. Robert P. Strathearn purchased the adobe and 14,000 acres of surrounding land for a cattle ranch during the early 1890s. Strathearn constructed a large Victorian two story house incorporating the old adobe, which was used as the kitchen and dining room. The home remained in the Strathearn family until 1969, when the dwelling and 5.85 acres of surrounding land were donated to the Simi Valley Recreation and Park District.

The Simi Adobe/Strathearn House, located at 137 Strathearn Pl. in Simi Valley, is open for tours on Saturday and Sunday, 1:00pm to 4:00pm, on Wednesdays at 1:00pm, and self-guided tours of the grounds are available Tuesday-Friday 9:00am to 2:00pm. The house is closed during wet weather, Christmas, New Years Day, Easter, and Mother's Day. For more information visit the park's website or call 805-526-6453.