El Molino Viejo, also known as The Old Mill, is a former grist mill in the San Rafael Hills of present-day San Marino, California, United States, and was built in 1816 by Father José María de Zalvidea from the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel (San Gabriel Mission).

El Molino Viejo is an architectural landmark, a fascinating link to the past and a notable California cultural center. Its beautiful gardens are an accredited arboretum and welcome visitors throughout the year and the California Art Club Gallery features paintings of California scenes that change multiple times a year.

El Molino Viejo is the oldest commercial building in Southern California. It's a prime example of western adobe style architecture. Today, the original structure functions as a museum as well as office space for Old Mill staff. A Brief History:

El Molino Viejo is an architectural landmark, a monument that celebrates the history of California. Situated on a hillside about two miles northwest of Mission San Gabriel, El Molino Viejo belongs to the City of San Marino and is operated by The Old Mill Foundation.

Completed in 1816 as a grist mill for Mission San Gabriel, the two-story oven-baked brick and adobe structure is a testament to Southern California history. Outside of the Mill is an attractive, well maintained garden highlighting native California trees and plants.

As the missions grew, a need arose for a grist mill to process the abundant grains. Such a mill was constructed about 1816 and is today El Molino Viejo – the Old Mill, the oldest building in San Marino, as well as a veteran structure of Southern California.

Jul 3, 2010 · It was a staged vignette of two Americans who, through art, were capturing a uniquely California scene. The couple, framed by the arc of a branch, posed closer to the building...

Jan 8, 2024 · El Molino Viejo, also known as The Old Mill, is a historic grist mill situated in the picturesque San Rafael Hills of San Marino, California. Constructed in 1816 by Father José María de Zalvidea from the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, it stands as the oldest commercial building in Southern California ( Wikipedia ).

It was also the derelict playground to future wartime hero, General Geroge Patton, the purported location of buried treasure and now a fabulous historic landmark open to the public.