The Ortega-Vigare Adobe

A soldier of the mission garrison built this a thousand feet down the road from the church, sometime between 1792 and 1805, which makes it the second oldest adobe in the valley. It was L-shaped once and is half that now. Jean Vigare, a Frenchman, took it over in 1859, and his family ran San Gabriel's first bakery out of it, with a cactus hedge between the yard and the mission's lime orchard. It came close to demolition and was rescued in the 1990s.

What the plaque says

Erected during mission days, 1792-1805. Second oldest adobe in this region. Originally 'L'-shaped, it is now only half its original size. In 1859, it became the property of Don Jean Vigare. In early 1860's became San Gabriel's first bakery, and was separated from the mission's lime orchard by a high cactus wall.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Mission San Gabriel Arcangel — steps away
  The fourth Alta California mission, built on Tongva land with Tongva labor, rebuilt after arson and now telling that story straight.
• Colorado Street Bridge — 4.7 mi
  Beaux-Arts concrete arches curving 150 feet above the Arroyo Seco, opened in 1913 and later a link in Route 66.
• Santa Monica Pier — 23 mi
  Where the Mother Road runs out of continent, and where the End of the Trail sign gives the drive somewhere to finish.

More markers nearby

• Mission San Gabriel Arcángel — steps away
• Old Mill — 2.1 mi
• Governor Stoneman Adobe, Los Robles — 2.2 mi
• Savannah Memorial Park — 2.5 mi