San Deigo Historic Site 53 CASA DE ESTUDILLO

This house, an excellent example of a Mexican Californian mansion, stands on thesoutheast side of the plaza in Old San Diego. It has been one of California'soutstanding show places for many years.

Prefect Don Jose Antonio Estudillo built the house, at about the same time the Bandinis raised theirs across the street, and brought up his children there. One, Jose Guadalupe, was elected to a number of highpositions, including State Treasurer, while living in it.

Formerly the house was surmounted by a cupola, which served the family as a choice observation post for the bullfights, bear baitings, and other amusements in the plaza. Within the house is a private chapel; the Estudillosallowed priests who came down from the Mission to use it, before the churchwas built on Conde Street, to minister to the needs of San Diego's residents.One room also was rented to the county as its school, a little later.

The house was bought by John D. Spreckels in 1910 and restored by him.Mexican labor employed the time-honored methods of construction originallyused. Since that time a collection of antiques and curiosa has been assembled in the house.