Jose Maria Alviso Adobe

California, United States

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

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The José María Alviso Adobe in Milpitas, California, is a two-story residence built in 1837 and substantially enlarged by 1853, standing as the sole surviving example of Monterey Colonial style architecture in the Santa Clara Valley. Originally constructed as a single-story adobe dwelling, the structure was remodeled by the Alviso family, who added a wood-frame second story and a hipped roof with balconies spanning three sides. The home belonged to José María Alviso, an early alcalde of the neighboring Pueblo de San Jose. Its character-defining features—wood-shingled roof, wooden balconies, paired French doors, multi-paned windows, interior fireplaces, and symmetrical three-room floor plan on each level—exemplify the Monterey style popularized throughout California in the 1830s and 1840s. Remarkably well-preserved, the adobe retains original adobe walls from the 1830s, 1853 framing and hardware, and an nearly intact 1920s kitchen. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the property is undergoing renovation to reflect its appearance as a working ranch and orchard of the 1920s era.

Movement

Mediterranean Revival architecture

Type: single-family detached home
Heritage: National Register of Historic Places listed place
Place: California, United States

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Location

37.43822, -121.87269