Founded in 1870 and incorporated on April 9, 1888, the City of San Jacinto is one of Riverside County's oldest communities with roots that stretch back to the earliest days of California.

In 1842, after California had passed from Spanish to Mexican rule, Jose' Antonio Estudillo was granted the 35,500-acre Rancho San Jacinto Viejo (Old San Jacinto), which took in most of the Valley.

Members of his family received two other nearby grants, giving the Estudillo family control over some 110,000 acres in the area.  The Estudillos ran cattle on the land.  Jose' Estudillo died in 1852, but his family continued to own most of the Valley until the early 1880's.  Two of his sons built two-story brick mansions in 1885 - 1886.  The oldest, built by Franciso Estudillo (1844 - 1921) in 1885, is located at Main and Seventh Streets in San Jacinto.


The Estudillo Mansion is currently owned by the City of San Jacinto.  The City successfully completed the interior and exterior Estudillo Mansion Restoration project in 2009.

It has been named the most significant historical building in the San Jacinto Valley and is one of the most significant in all of Riverside County.


On January 2, 2002, the City of San Jacinto announced the placement of the Estudillo Mansion and the Francisco Heritage Park on the California Register of Historic Resources.  This is only the third Riverside County site to receive this honor.

Francisco Estudillo was San Jacinto's first postmaster and was also appointed Mission Indian Agent for the Federal Government, responsible for 32 reservations in southern and central California.  He was elected to the local school board and in 1890 was elected San Jacinto's second mayor, serving until 1892.  Many members of the Estudillo family married other early famous California people such as those of the Pico family.  There are many descendants and two reunions have been held at the mansion. 


After passing through many owners, the mansion was purchased by the County of Riverside in 1992.  It had been severely damaged by the Landers-Big Bear earthquakes on June 28, 1992.  The County turned ownership over to the City of San Jacinto in 1998. 

The Estudillo Mansion is open to the public every Saturday from 11am to 4pm.  Click here for more information on the Mansion.  Click here for a flyer appropriate to pass out to your classroom when planning a school group tour.

Be a part of our Barn Restoration Project!




Donations are being accepted to restore the original barn that is located on the property.

Estudillo Heritage Park
Water Conservation Education Garden

The water-wise garden in Estudillo Heritage Park has been designed with water conservation in mind.  The purpose of this garden is to educate our community about the beauty and water-saving benefits of planting drought tolerant and native California plants.  The garden was designed primarily with California native plants.  However, there are also plants from around the world that thrive in out Southern California climate.

The garden is roughly divided into climate regions:  Desert, Inland, Chaparral, Coastal and Mediterranean or Southern California.  These divisions are not strict and plants are aesthetically mixed throughout the Garden.  However the plants are grouped by similar water needs.  Each of these areas is irrigated differently to demonstrate the various water-wise ways to irrigate gardens in our region.  Click here to learn more about the Water Conservation Education Garden.

The Francisco Estudillo Heritage Park is the site of many City-sponsored events.  The Museum and grounds, along with the Water Conversation Education Garden are open Friday - Sunday 11am to 4pm.

Check out these sites on more information on how to conserve water:

• Save Our Water
• Ahorre Agua

Check out these sites for water saving tips
and information:

• www.bewaterwise.com
• www.emwd.org
• www.usewaterwisely.org

Contact Information

Mansion & Garden Address:
150 S. Dillon Avenue
San jacinto, CA 92583


Hours of Operation:
Open to the general public Saturdays only:
11 am - 4 pm
Group Tours:
Open by Appointment Only


Telephone Numbers:
 For Special Event Reservations:
P:(951)487-7330 X307 
Cynthia Espinosa

Meuseum and Mansion Tours:
P: (951) 927-7367 Rebecca Schlosser
P: (951) 654-4952 for Betty Jo Dunham

Email Address:

[email protected]