This article lists the oldest extant buildings in California, including extant buildings and structures constructed during Spanish, Mexican, and early American rule over California. Only buildings built prior to 1850 are suitable for inclusion on this list, or the building must be the oldest of its type.
In order to qualify for the list, a structure must: be a recognizable building (defined as any human-made structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or continuous occupancy); incorporate features of building work from the claimed date to at least in height and/or be a listed building.
This consciously excludes ruins of limited height, roads and statues. Bridges may be included if they otherwise fulfill the above criteria. Dates for many of the oldest structures have been arrived at by radiocarbon dating and should be considered approximate. If the exact year of initial construction is estimated, it will be shown as a range of dates.
18th century
BuildingImage Location First built UseNotes Plaza de Los Ángeles Los Angeles 1781 Plaza Oldest plaza in California. Serra Chapel San Juan Capistrano 1782 Church Part of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Oldest extant building in California. El Cuartel Santa Barbara 1782 Barracks Part of the Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara. Second oldest extant building in California. Cañedo Adobe Santa Barbara 1782 Barracks Part of the Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara. Third oldest extant building in California. Ruins of Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia Santa Margarita 1787 Church Significant portions of the asistencia walls and foundations have been preserved within a large barn owned by Santa Margarita Ranch.Ranch history at Santa Margarita Ranch Catalan Forges San Juan Capistrano 1790s Bloomery Part of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Oldest extant metalworking structures in California. Pablo Pryor Adobe San Juan Capistrano 1790 Residence Also known as the Hide House. Presumed to be the oldest extant residence in California. Private residence. Mission San Francisco de Asís San Francisco 1791 Church Oldest building in City of San Francisco. The original chapel, built in 1771, was rebuilt out of adobe from 1782 to 1791. Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo Monterey 1791–94 Cathedral Part of the Presidio of Monterey. Oldest stone building in California and the second oldest extant cathedral in the United States. Plaza Hotel San Juan Bautista 1792 Dormitory Served as a dormitory, barrack, private residence, and a hotel. A timber second story was added in the late 1850s. Old Adobe Woman's Club Santa Clara 1792–1800 Residence Ortega-Vigare Adobe San Gabriel 1792–1805 Residence Blas Aguilar Adobe San Juan Capistrano 1794 Residence Also known as the Casa de Esperanza. Montanez Adobe San Juan Capistrano 1794 Residence Rios Adobe San Juan Capistrano 1794 Residence Mission San Diego de Alcalá San Diego 1795 Church First Spanish mission in Alta California. The original mission burned down in 1775 and was reconstructed out of adobe from 1776 to 1795. Branciforte Adobe Santa Cruz 1797 Residence The only remaining residence of the Villa de Branciforte. El Adobe de Capistrano San Juan Capistrano 1797 Residence The northern portion of the building was built in 1797. A southern extension was added in 1818. Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Carmel 1797 Church The original adobe mission, built in 1771, was rebuilt with quarried stone in 1797. Luís María Peralta Adobe San José 1797 Residence Oldest building in City of San José.Ramon Peralta Adobe Historic Site, Ocparks.com Plaza de César Chávez San José 1797 Plaza Oldest plaza in Northern California. Orella Adobes near Goleta 1798–1841 Residence
19th century