Dominguez Rancho Adobe, Carson, CA
Posted by: 
hykesj
N 33° 52.041 W 118° 13.079
11S E 387344 N 3748114
The stamp commemorates the California ranchos and specifically, Rancho San Pedro, the first private land grant in southern California. The adobe building was completed in 1827 and served as the Dominguez family home.
Waymark Code: WMER19
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 06/29/2012
Views: 4
Juan Jose Dominguez was born in Mexico in 1736 of Catalan descent. He served in the Spanish military up and down the California coast defending and protecting the Spanish missions and early colonization. After 25 years of military service, he retired having only achieved the rank of private, first class. In 1783 Dominguez petitioned Spanish governor of Alta California, Pedro Fages, one of his former commanders in the military, for some land on which to graze some cattle he had acquired. A rather generous grant of land was bestowed in 1784 and named Rancho San Pedro, the first of several such grants made to private citizens at that time.
Juan Jose Dominguez built a small two room adobe home on Rancho San Pedro but rarely lived there. The adobe building pictured on the stamp was completed in 1827 by Don Manuel Dominguez, Juan Jose's grand nephew and one of the heirs of Rancho San Pedro. Don Manuel was heavily involved in local politics serving three terms as mayor of Los Angeles as well as several other offices. Being popular (and being versed in both Spanish and English) he became one of the few Mexican statesmen to continue political service after the Americans took over the administration of the area in 1848.
Sometimes real estate deals work out. As the price of land around the Los Angeles area rose, it made rich people out of Don Manuel's heirs, especially after oil was discovered in the 1920's. Maria de los Reyes Dominguez, Don Manuel's youngest daughter, was worth $15 million when she died in 1933.
The Dominguez Ranch once covered 75,000 acres from present day Redondo Beach east to Compton and south to Long Beach. Now, the adobe structure is hard to find among all the urban sprawl.
Stamp Issuing Country: United States
Date of Issue: Sept. 16, 1984
Denomination: 13 cents
Color: multicolored
Stamp Type: Single Stamp
Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]
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