Oldest residental in Los Angeles. I'm surprised it still survived earthquakes. I actually stumbled across this looking for the restroom. I'm glad to see that it was preserved and to show how the past looked like. It's one of several tiny museums that are littered within Olvera St which is a surprise. read more

FRE! FREE! FREE! Located on Olvera Street itself, it was free. The different spaces inside was furnished to recreate what a home looked like around two centuries ago. The actual structure was restored well. The flow of the space was done very well. You can move from room to room without confusion. read more

See all

I stumbled on this place because I was looking for a bathroom. Lucky me! The admission to this historic house museum is free. We were greeted by a friendly guide who offered to take a photo of us in front of the beautiful outdoor landscape. He welcomed us to ask him any questions about the different rooms in the house. We walked through the entire home and saw all the different rooms. Beautifully detailed. We went into a room that looked like a classroom and watched a video of the history of Los Angeles. I definitely learned something new and enjoyed the time warp back to the 1800's. Very informational. Also, they have bathrooms!! (One stall bathrooms) read more

See all

It's a free exhibit! Drop by when you're at Olvera Street. It's a neat look into LA history with its oldest residence. You can see the Avila family's living quarters (kitchen, bedrooms, etc) and their belongings. There are descriptions to each room and display for more information into their lives, their daily schedules, how the adobe that built everything was made, etc. The courtyard also has other displays and I thought it was lovely with the plants (grapevine shade is really nice). The watering hole was unfortunately closed on the day that we went, but you can enter through the front half, read up some information and look down into it. Forgot to ask if this place is haunted. That would have been a cool piece of extra info. read more

Located in one of my favorite districts in Los Angles: El Pueblo de Los Angeles is home to many delightful gems. One not to be missed and a highlight is Avila Adobe: Los Angeles's oldest residence. Located on the historic and vibrant Olvera Street, Avila Adobe was built by a prominent ranchero Don Francisco Avila who served as mayor of LA in 1810. I would like to give a huge shout-out to the lovely Jilly who works at the museum. We had a wonderful conversation and she gave me insights into particular items on view and gave fantastic suggestions on what to do while in the area. Thank you Jilly for your incredible hospitality: you truly are a gem that radiates light and warmth. Do not bypass this museum: it is a must see while in this historic neighborhood and one that I never tire of visiting. read more

Ávila Adobe - Original grapevine trees that are more than 150 years old brought over by European immigrants - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

How many have gone to Olvera Street and for years, passed this place by without even giving it a second thought? I did the same for many years, until I decided to drop in and take a self guided tour of Avila Adobe back in the 1990s. And all for free! This place takes you back in time, and is one of those historic LA landmarks not done away with. The walls have been rebuilt after one of the major earthquakes we suffered several years ago, but basically, minus maybe another wing, still an historic gem. A few years ago, I brought a couple of my coworkers over to see it, one of them interested in supposedly haunted places as Avila Adobe is rumored to be. Her and her husband love to visit such places. Well this lady in question, on entering the front door, nearly leaped into my arms on seeing someone standing behind the barrier, dressed in old period clothing. She questioned whether I saw it too, along with the other individual with us. I soon calmed her nerves by answering "she's what you call a docent and conducts tours here, not a ghost". Much to the relief of my dear friend. read more

See all

FREE...that is the first thing to know.... Second....it is the oldest house in LA. As you walk in, you see the setup and space the same way it was in the 1800s when the place was first built. It has gone through extensive renovations, but today, you can appreciate the patio, the rooms, the clothing and the furniture, the way it was. It's located in the Olvera St market section, kind of tucked away on the side, look for the signs otherwise you might miss it... read more

Ávila Adobe - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The Admission: FREE!! Very small museum, displaying the home/furniture in the past.You get to see the life style as well. The Museum: It is a historic site built in 1818. It is right on Olvera Street. If you are in the neighborhood, check it out. It is free and informative. Besides the museum, there are small shops and restaurants nearby. You can definitely spend an hour or so on Olvera Street. It is one of LA Landmark. read more

See all

The Avila Adobe located on Oliver Street on the edge of Los Angeles's Chinatown near Union Station is historic home definitely worth seeing. Local historians peg as having been erected in 1818. Though that may be true, my gut tells me that actual completion would have been somewhere around the mid 1820's. However, the issue is of little import. What is important is that it offers a free (yes, the viewing and tours are free....only donations accepted) tour and look into what is one the earliest remaining dwelling in Los Angeles and Southern California. A self-guided tour only takes about 20 minutes or so, but there are a number of very helpful docents on hand to answer and questions or offer any explanations as to the history of the structure or of the Avila family. The structural walls are composed of sun baked adobe brick with a thickness of approximately 2 1/2 feet and though the roof appears slanted it was original flat, tarred over with tar from the nearby La Brea Tar Pits. As the Avila's were a family of extreme wealth for the area, the structure isn't typical of what would have been the norm, having been enhanced with lavish imports Mexico as well as from Boston and the New England areas of America which is interesting in that such would have predated the Mexican-American War of 1846 and were transported great distances by ships having to travel all the way around furthest South American points of Cape Horn. Due to damaging earthquakes the home has been restored on several occasions, but faithfully so. Also, it should be noted that thanks to Christine Sterling, Harry Chandler and others of vision was saved from the developers and the wrecking ball in order to give the people today an upfront first had view of their past, history and heritage. read more

If you're ever in Olvera Street during the day, drop by and take a look at the Avila Adobe Museum. They're open everyday from 9am to 4pm and it's FREE to enter. When people say that Olvera street has a lot of history in it, well Avila Adobe is the original place where it all started. It is the oldest standing landmark in Los Angeles that was built in 1818 and is part of the California State Historic Park and is a national landmark. You look at this home and you're actually looking at real adobe. You know that's the stuff you only see in movies, but this is an actual adobe made home. Throughout the years, they have done a good job in maintaining and preserving this home and a lot of the furniture, beds, tables are original stuff that dates back in the mid 19th century. So if you really want to be a part of history, just take a stroll here and check out each individual rooms and through the patio with the various succulents they have. They also have a really big wooden cart that dates back in the 1850s. read more

See all

I absolutely LOVED this exhibit! I had no idea that this house even existed! It was fun to see the old architecture! Beautifully preserved and the staff was incredibly informative! I highly recommend it! read more

See all

Came across this historic gem, in a total food coma roaming Olvera St. I remember coming her in Elementary school on a field trip and to be honest, I remember it being a lot larger! This is very neat and free! A little LA history that we get to enjoy to see our routes as a city. This house was built in the 1800's and is pretty good condition. There are volunteers throughout the house that can answer questions or help guide you along. From what it seems, a lot of the furniture throughout the house is original. I did not ask, so I'm not 100% sure about that but from looks alone, it seems authentic. It definitely can be hard to miss since it is in the middle or Olvera Street but keep it in mind! It's a nice little break from the chaos. read more

Such rich history as being the oldest home in Los Angeles! This place is referred as the "birthplace of Los Angeles." There are daily free tours led by volunteers, 10am to 4pm. Lots of interactive rooms with different information, including a room where you can watch a historical video. If you want to learn about the history of LA w/o consulting a book, just go on a free tour! read more

See all

It's very neat how Ávila Adobe house demonstrates and preserves history. Free admission by the way.

One of the oldest homes in LA! It is almost 200 years old. We walked around the house and were given a nice history lesson. We got to walk through and see each room and see what it was like to be "rich" back in the early 1800s in LA! read more

Ávila Adobe - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

How cool to be able to walk around Olvera Street and go into one of the houses and see/imagine how life was back in the 19th century in this neighborhood, especially since most other houses have turned into shops and restaurants. If you walk around, you can see the whole place in 10 minutes but if you read the description on the wall, its very fascinating. Plus, its FREE, so definitely check it out! read more

See all

I feel like this is an important "must-do" in Los Angeles because of its history (the oldest home in the city). They have done a great job with the exhibits, explaining things in a succinct and relatable way. And with free admission, the price is right!!! read more

Ávila Adobe - The courtyard area - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Olvera Street is just an amazing place to be for its history, the great food, vendors, and access to several museums. I visited Avila Adobe Museum while there. It's a quaint house, actually the oldest-standing residence in Los Angeles. It is free to the public, who are able to walk-thru and quickly take pictures before annoying another visitor. It was pretty busy on a Sunday morning shortly after opening. The home has been well-maintained and nicely staged. There are several cash only lots in the area if you are unable to find street parking. read more

See all

Three visits to Olvera Street in the last few weeks led me to this place that I finally noticed over the weekend. I was hosting some friends from out of town, and so between the sign that said "Oldest home in Los Angeles" and "Free entry" we had to duck in. It's a small home that was apparently the summer home for a wealthy ranch owner back in the early 1800s. The walk-through takes you through a few rooms, like a parlor, bedroom, and kitchen, and showcases items from that era's Los Angeles. You get a small glimpse of what life was like nearly 200 years ago, with folks there to answer any questions. There's also an outdoor courtyard that I didn't see much of, but this is a place where 20 minutes would allow you to see pretty much the whole thing (take the time to read the history, it's pretty interesting!). Closes at 4 pm. read more

Before Christine Sterling dreamed up the colorful, Mexican fantasy marketplace that is Olvera Street, the alleyway once known as Wine Street had pretty much fallen into disrepair. Among the few things originally there was the Avila Adobe, the oldest home in L.A., built nearly 200 years ago. Really, it's made out of Los Angeles, composed of mud and straw from the area with tar from the La Brea pits to seal the roof. The adobe house had lived through the Mexican-American War, where it had become (without the owners' permission) a headquarters for American troops. It was later condemned following an earthquake in 1870. Then Christine Sterling came along and saved the Avila Adobe from being plowed down by staying in it herself, overseeing the restoration of Olvera, and grabbing the attention of the press and people alike. This strong-willed, English woman lived there the rest of her life. Avila Adobe is the beating heart of Los Angeles, and most people don't notice or bother with it. It's free to visit the house, which closes in the early afternoon (3 or 4 p.m., I think). It's like going through one of the Ranchos (Los Alamitos, Los Cerritos, etc). You're able to walk through the courtyard, which is filled with various types of cacti as well as a large wooden cart, and you can peruse some of the house's rooms, furnished with Latin American antiques. There aren't really tours for it. It's self-guided with people there to field your questions, and it doesn't take long to see everything. read more

This is apparently the oldest house in Los Angeles (built in 1818). Its free to see so that's a plus and it's interesting to see how people lived back in the day. It's pretty small, so don't expect to see as much as you would at any of the Spanish missions, but if you're in Olvera Street, it's worth a look. read more

See all

Rich in history and free! Give this place a few minutes of your time and discover the oldest house in Los Angeles

Oldest building in all of LA! Almost 200 years old. Wow! If you like to walk IN history this is one of them. read more

See all

Considered the oldest existing house in Los Angeles, the Avila Adobe was the residence of the ranchero Don Francisco Abela (Avila), a native of Sinaloa, Mexico, who arrived in LA right around 1794. This house was visited by many merchants and rancheros who were interested in the Avila's family business: loyal to their origins, they traded cowhides and tallows for furnishings from all over the world and had a blooming business. Known for its generosity and hospitality, the Avila family inhabited this building for several decades until the Mexican-American war, when Commodore Robert F. Stockton and his troops decided to make their headquarters while they negotiated peace between the Californian and the US authorities. Many families lived in this house until it became a boardinghouse and, eventually, started to deteriorate with the rest of the area. Thanks to Mrs. Christine Sterling's dedication and campaign, this historical landmark was restored to its former glory and became a museum. Mrs. Sterling herself lived in this house until her death in 1963 and worked as an enthusiastic guide for the many groups that visited this place over the years. This place is a must-go for all those who are interested in LA's history and seek more during thyeir visit than the lights of the movie industry. It is a poignant witness to the hard labor and dedication of the many Mexican families who contributed to build this city. read more

See all

While visiting Olvera Street on 9/29/16 I was pleasantly surprised to run across this place. I've always been a fan of historic places so this was an added bonus to our day. This is suppose to be the oldest house in Los Angeles. They really done a good job of maintaining it and there were a few people working inside that were available to answer any questions. The price tour the place was great...FREE...donations accepted. I highly recommend this place for those who enjoy a little history with their sight seeing. read more

Such a lovely, FREE place to enter and imagine what life was like for early Angelenos. Docents provide information as do signs and a movie. The exhibit about the zanja madre also takes us back to the early days of LA. Many thanks to Mrs. Sterling and all those involved in the preservation of this place. read more

Ávila Adobe - Avila Adobe's courtyard - Museums Near Me - Los Angeles, California

FREE!! Definitely worth a visit, so much of history, life before the digital age, the grounds are extensive, with so many fruit trees. Spent about 1 hour here, reading all the information and watching the videos. Beautiful!! read more

It's the oldest house in LA. It's a nice, quick, 5-minute walkthrough. It's free, what can you say? However, there isn't much. I mean, it is simply a house. Marvel at its history. read more

Great place to visit when in Olvera Street. Did not know about the place, so very happy that I found it. The lady that was in the entrence, was very nice and informative, and answered all the questions I had. Pretty good place to take the kids and show them a little history. read more

I actually walked around Olvera Street with a friend. We eventually walked in here while at it, it's so lovely. At first you're greeted by people in period clothing as you enter inside the house, I give them props for that as especially this place is haunted (or a lot of Olvera is). You basically walk by each room, which gives its respected description. This is the oldest standing house in LA while being 200 years old. I'm obsessed with everything paranormal and history so this was the best 10 minutes spent read more

Historic house right in the middle of the market off of Olvera and the plaza. It's easy to miss the entrance on a crowded day. It's not a huge museum, you could budget 30 minutes and have spent enough time to visit each room and read the signs. Interesting architecture and the staff has done a nice job recreating what an early- mid-1820s home might look like. It is free to tour, and there is a donations bin in the main house on a table with other pamphlets. read more

This is a sweet little museum. The house and garden are interesting. I really liked the whole idea of the exhibit on the history of water and its distribution in LA - there were some fascinating little tidbits in there. I do wish that they would update the water exhibit though - it's a bit hard to read, very old fashioned placards, and some of the most interesting parts are in an inaccessible stairway. read more