Santa Margarita Ranch House
The Santa Margarita Ranch House National Historic Site is situated on about 21 acres of Camp Pendleton and includes the Ranch House, Bunkhouse Museum and Ranch House Chapel. The site was originally developed as an estancia by the padres from Mission San Luis Rey. By 1841, some 13,800 acres of mission land was transferred by the Mexican government to Andres and Pio Pico, who transformed it into a ranch. Eventually purchased by Richard O’Neill and James Flood in 1882, the site became the center of a large cattle-ranching operation. In 1942, 125,000 acres were acquired by the U.S. government for a Marine Corps training station. The original, single-story, eighteen-room ranch house built by the Picos continues to serve as quarters for Camp Pendleton’s commanding officers. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Camp Pendleton, San Diego County
Photographer: Jeanne Roberts