Santa Margarita Ranch House : Doug Porter

The Santa Margarita Ranch House, a National Register-listed site in San Diego County, is the historic headquarters for a ranch owned by Pio Pico, the last Mexican governor of California.

The ranch, along with the associated property at the nearby Las Flores Adobe, was acquired by the United States government during World War II and converted to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The Ranch House now houses the Marine Corps West Regional Commanding General.

In 2006 the University of Vermont produced a Historic Structures Report for the site; the report is focused on development of designs for seismic and structural stabilization of the building. Retrofit design is complicated by the fact that several significant additions were made to the adobe ranch house early in the 20th century, constructed of concrete and structural clay tile; the modern materials cannot sustain the same displacements as the adobe construction.

The project has created research and internship opportunities for Historic Preservation staff and students. This project is expected to lead to implementation of seismic and structural improvements as well as development of preservation plans for the other historic buildings in the Ranch House complex.