Bienvenidos to the Santa Margarita Ranch House National Historic Site, former home of the commanding general of Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton. Your tour of the complex continues more than a century and a half of traditional hospitality and generosity.
Santa Margarita Ranch House history includes key events and figures from the history of California and the nation. The Ranch House y Las Flores has provided shelter and served as administrative center for inhabitants of the Rancho Santa Margarita since 1841. The wide adobe walls, the rustle of eucalyptus leaves, and the vivid purples of bougainvillea evoke mental images of early Native Americans, Spanish explorers, turbulent Mexican rule and American conquest with, giant cattle drives, exciting rodeos, and fiestas enlivened by laughter and Spanish guitars.
The Marine Mechanized Museum on Camp Pendelton is an excellent location to conduct your next unit function. Please contact the History and Museum Department at (760) 725-5758 to find out more about hosting an event at the Marine Mechanized Museum.
The Rancho derives its name from the feast day of St. Margaret of Antioch. It was recorded by Father Crespi on July 20, 1769 as he traveled northward through this valley as part of Gaspar de Portola’s expedition. Later, the valley was included as part of Mission San Luis Rey. Records from 1827 describe a building, generally in the Ranch House area, used for storage and shelter. Since then, the Rancho has seen several owners and many changes. Pio and Andres Pico applied to the Mexican Governor for the Rancho Santa Margarita land and thereby became the owners of the largest Mexican land grant in Southern California. A young Englishman, John Forster, married Andres’ and Pio’s sister, Ysidora, and gained two large properties of his own. Don Juan (John) Forster later paid off Pio’s large gambling debt and added to his holding the Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores, creating a land holding totaling more than 335 square miles extending from the Ranch House north nearly to El Toro. His children sold the Rancho to James Flood who later split the property with his friend and ranch manager, Richard O’Neill.
In March 1942, the U.S. Government purchased the Rancho from the Floods, O’Neills, and Baumgartners. In that year, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated Camp Pendleton and expressed an enthusiasm and interest in its preservation and a special liking for a place that has since been called the President’s Room.
During World War II, the rancho served as a training facility for thousands of Marines and Sailors as they departed for the Central Pacific, Camp Joseph H. Pendleton’s 125,000 acres continued to serve as a training and staging area for Marines and Navy personnel participating in Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, OIF and other commitments worldwide.
The Santa Margarita Ranch House complex, comprised of the Ranch House, Chapel, and Bunkhouse Museum, is a registered National Historic Site. Displays include the many mementos and artifacts representing the people who have lived in and around Rancho Santa Margarita, graciously donated by the past residents, visitors and friends.
Location & Directions
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TOURS
Please contact the History and Museum Department by phone at (760) 725-5758 or email MCBCamPen_History@usmc.mil to learn more about possibly taking a tour of the site.
While on site during a tour:
Photographs are not permitted of the Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton.
Smoking is not permitted in base buildings.
No pets allowed on the Ranch House complex.
Photography is permitted at the museums.