The Hill-Carrillo Adobe, a major remnant of California's Mexican past, is a good example of architectural style and construction techniques during the Hispanic era of California.

In 1823, Daniel A. Hill arrived in Santa Barbara from Massachusetts as one of the earliest American settlers in California. Within the next three years he built the adobe house for himself and his new wife, Rafaela Luisa Ortega y Olivera. She was the granddaughter of Jose Francisco Ortega, one of the the discoverers of San Francisco Bay and the founder and first commandante of the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara.

It was in this house in 1833 that they had a daughter, Isabel. Although she died a year later, she was the first child born in California of both American parents.

In 1850, the first city council of Santa Barbara met in the adobe, and throughout the 1850s the council was granted the use of the house for its sessions.

In 1851, the Italian portrait painter, Barbieri had his studios in the house.

In 1852 a daguerrotypist photographed the town's elite on the front porch.

In 1853, Joaquin Carrillo was listed as the owner in city records. The Carrillo family is well known in California and Santa Barbara history. Many of its members were large landowners and politicians in the Mexican and early American eras. The house remained in the hands of the Carrillo family for several decades before passing from the family sometime during the late 19th century.

Excerpted from the NRHP Nomination submitted in 1986.

The Hill-Carrillo Adobe is also California Historical Landmark 721.

When we photographed the building in March 2017, it was private property owned by Union Bank.