La Casa de Machado
de Wrightington

Location: 2769 San Diego Avenue
Old Town State Historic Park
Old Town San Diego, CA (map)
Phone: (619) 220-5422
More info : Website

The original adobe residence, built in the early 1830’s, was originally owned by San Diego Presidio soldier Damasio Alipas, and his wife Juana (Juanita) de Dios Machado de Alipas. She was a well-respected nurse and partera (midwife), who had an extraordinary knowledge of local California Indian healing practices.

The property was passed to Juanita, after Damasio’s death during an Indian conflict in Mexico in 1835. Juanita remarried to Thomas Wrightington, a shoemaker from New England, who adjusted into the Mexican culture, serving as justice of the peace, alcalde (mayor) and sheriff.

California State Parks reconstructed the adobe in 1985. It now serves as a park concession.