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A Sign of Enduring Importance
May/June 2026
A meaningful new marker now greets visitors to the Warner–Carrillo Ranch House in the welcome and admissions room, where a bronze plaque was recently dedicated in recognition of the site’s enduring place in San Diego County history.
Presented by the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century, through its Crown Colony Chapter, the plaque honors the 1857 adobe built by Vicenta Carrillo—a remarkable Californio woman rancher whose home and activities reflect life in the Valle de San José in the 19th and 20th centuries. With more than 11,000 members, the national organization honors the legacy of America’s early settlers.
The plaque also recognizes the collaborative efforts that ensured the survival and restoration of the historic adobe. Thanks to the work of the Vista Irrigation District and Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO), the ranch house has been carefully restored and preserved. Today, it welcomes visitors seeking a tangible connection to the region’s early California traditions, ranching history, westward migration, and layered cultural heritage.
For the Colonial Dames, this dedication continues a long-standing mission: placing historical markers at significant landmarks so the stories of the past remain visible and accessible.
The dedication ceremony brought together Crown Colony Chapter members, preservationists, historians, and community members for a brief program followed by tours of the adobe. Standing in the shade of the historic ranch house site, guests reflected on the generations of women and men whose stewardship has allowed this remarkable place to endure.
"SOHO is honored to receive this plaque from the Crown Colony Chapter of the Colonial Dames recognizing the history of the Warner–Carrillo Ranch House and helping ensure the story of this remarkable place remains visible for future generations.”—Kathryn Fletcher, Site Manager
The new plaque offers visitors one more way to understand the significance of saving the Warner–Carrillo Ranch House, an enduring landmark whose story continues to unfold more than a century and a half after Vicenta Carrillo first built it for her growing family.
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