The Trujillo Adobe, one of Riverside's oldest structures dating to 1862, has been unanimously approved for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places by the California State Historical Resources Commission, officials announced Friday.
The May 9, 2025, decision marks a triumph for the small group of Trujillo family descendants who have worked tirelessly for more than a decade to save what remained of their ancestral home.
"This has been a labor of love for so many years," said Carol Ortega Koelling, Vice President of Spanish Town Heritage Foundation. "Today's recognition honors the perseverance of our ancestors, the resilience of our community, and the enduring story of the Trujillo family's contributions to the region."
What began as a modest grassroots effort by family members including Nancy Melendez and Darlene Trujillo Elliot has evolved into a community-wide movement to preserve this crucial piece of Latino heritage. When they first organized, the adobe was crumbling, enclosed in a protective wooden structure and largely forgotten despite being Riverside's oldest building.
The foundation's signature fundraising event, the annual Riverside Tamale Festival, has been instrumental in raising awareness and funds. Started in 2013, the festival celebrates the region's Hispanic culinary heritage while generating crucial support for preservation efforts. Over the years, it has grown from a small local gathering to a popular regional event drawing thousands of visitors.
Their persistence gained momentum when the adobe was named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "11 Most Endangered Historic Places" list in 2021, bringing national attention to their cause. This recognition helped secure $10.4 million in state funding in 2022 for preservation and development of the site.
The foundation continues to host monthly tours, volunteer cleanup days and educational programs at the adobe. Family members serve as docents, sharing stories passed down through generations about Lorenzo Trujillo and the community he established.
"We are thrilled to take this next step in bringing the site back to life for public education and celebration," Koelling added.
For more information about the Trujillo Adobe or restoration efforts, contact Darlene Trujillo Elliot at (951) 235-2617 or Elliotone@icloud.com.
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