View source for Adamson House

{{short description|Historic house in California, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name                     = Adamson House
| nrhp_type                =
| designated_other1        = California
| designated_other1_number = 966
| image                    = Adamson House 3187.jpg
| caption                  = Adamson House
| location                 = 23200 W. Pacific Coast Highway, [[Malibu, California]]
| coordinates              = {{coord|34|2|4|N|118|40|42|W|region:US-CA_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin                 = USA Los Angeles Metropolitan Area#California#USA
| area                     =
| built                    = 1929 (family moved in during June 1930)
| architect                = [[Stiles O. Clements]]
| architecture             = [[Mediterranean Revival architecture|Mediterranean]] or [[Spanish Colonial Revival architecture|Spanish]]-[[Moorish Revival architecture|Moorish]]<ref name=link/>
| added                    = October 28, 1977
| refnum                   = 77000298
<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref>
}}

[[File:Adamson House Fountain Malibu, CA.pdf|thumb|Beachside Fountain]]
The '''Adamson House''' and its estate, known as '''Vaquero Hill''' in the 19th century,<ref name=Dreams/> is a historic house built by [[Rhoda Adamson]] and gardens in [[Malibu, California|Malibu]], [[California]]. The residence and estate is on the coast, within [[Malibu Lagoon State Beach]] park.

It has been called the "[[Taj Mahal]] of Tile" due to its extensive use of decorative [[ceramic]] [[tile]]s created by [[Rufus Keeler]] of [[Malibu Potteries]]. The house was built in 1929 for Rhoda Rindge Adamson and Merritt Huntley Adamson, based on a [[Mediterranean Revival architecture|Mediterranean Revival]] design by [[Stiles O. Clements]] of the architectural firm of [[Morgan, Walls & Clements]]. The Adamson House was designated as [[California Historical Landmark]] No. 966 in 1977, and added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1985.

==History==

===Rindge-Adamson family===
[[Frederick Hastings Rindge]] was a wealthy Boston businessman who relocated to Los Angeles, and owned the "Rindge Ranch", which included the historic Spanish land concession [[Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit]], enlarged by subsequent land purchases surrounding the ranch. The Rindge Ranch thus encompassed present day Malibu, California, and small portions of the [[Santa Monica Mountains]]. His daughter was Rhoda Agatha Rindge Adamson.<ref name=link/><ref name=Daughter/>

Merritt Adamson (1888–1949) was a graduate of the [[University of Southern California Law School]] and was the captain of the 1912 [[USC Trojans football|football team]], the first USC team to be known as the "Trojans".<ref name=Suicide>{{cite news|title=Adamson Ends Life on Malibu Estate: Former Rhoda Rindge Finds Husband Dying; Friends Blame Despondency Over Bad Health|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1949-01-08}}</ref>  Adamson met Rhoda Rindge while he was employed as the foreman of the Rindge Ranch. [[Rhoda Adamson|Rhoda Rindge]] reportedly became interested in him when she helped nurse him back to good health after he was injured in an accident. The couple was married in 1915. In 1916 Adamson established a [[Dairy farming|dairy business]] in the [[San Fernando Valley]], in [[Tarzana, Los Angeles|Tarzana]] known as Adohr Farms, the name being his wife's name spelled backwards.<ref name=Daughter/><ref name=Suicide/>  The business became one of the country's largest dairies, operating one of the largest herds of [[Guernsey cattle|Guernsey cows]] in the world.<ref name=Suicide/>

===Construction and architecture===
[[File:Neptune Fountain (2), Adamson House.jpg|thumb|right|Neptune Fountain]]
[[File:PeacockFountain974.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Peacock Fountain|Peacock Fountain]]
The two-story, ten-room Adamson House was designed by Stiles O. Clements and built of steel-reinforced concrete.<ref name=Lacks>{{cite news|author=Robert W. Stewart|title=Adamson Home in Malibu: State Lacks Funds for Historic House|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1983-01-06}}</ref>  Completed in 1930, Stiles called the house an outstanding example of modified Mediterranean Revival-style architecture.<ref name=Seaside>{{cite news|title=Seaside and Hillside Homes Erected: Residences Mark Start of Shore Development|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1930-03-16}}</ref>  Architectural historians refer to the style as a synthesis of [[Spanish Colonial Revival architecture|Spanish Colonial Revival]] and [[Moorish Revival architecture]].  The interior features red tile floors, lancet windows, tile roofs, wood beams and molded walls. <ref>https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-07-01-we-8991-story.html</ref>
The house features [[teak]] woodworking, [[fireplace]]s in several interior and outdoor [[patio]] rooms, handpainted ceilings, [[lead]]-framed bottle glass windows, and "[[Wrought iron|wrought-iron]] [[filigree]]s fitting over the windows like intricate jewelry."<ref name=link/><ref name=Glory/>  The main floor is dominated by a large [[living room]] with windows on three sides.  The room is still furnished as it was when the Adamsons lived there, including the large radio on which the family received news of the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].  Other rooms on the main floor include a guest bedroom with a bathroom that is tiled literally from floor to ceiling, a dining room with an old convent table overlooking the ocean, a kitchen with an early version of a dishwasher and a colorful tiled clock, and the main entrance with its imposing wood door and tiled entrance table. The house also features an [[elevator]] system.

There are four bedrooms and a small kitchenette upstairs. The master bedroom, where Mr. and Mrs. Adamson slept, is on the southwest corner of the house. It has a large tiled bathroom, and Mrs. Adamson's clothes and hat collection remain in her closet. Next to the master bedroom is the one designed for the Adamsons' son; its bathroom has detailed tiles depicting ships and nautical scenes. The girls' bedroom in the center facing the ocean has a tremendous view of the ocean and coast. These three bedrooms open onto a large upstairs patio with the home's most spectacular panoramic view of the ocean, the Malibu lagoon and the coast in both directions. The fourth bedroom upstairs is at the eastern end of the second floor and looks out of a large [[Dombeya]] tree that blooms with spectacular bright red flowers in the spring.

Another striking feature of the house is the tiled [[swimming pool]] set into the sand that was equipped with a special filtering and heating apparatus that permitted the pool to be filled with either [[Seawater|salt]] or [[fresh water]].<ref name=Seaside/>  ''The Los Angeles Times'' in 1930 noted that the unusual features made the "plunge one of the finest in the southland."<ref name=Seaside/>
===A tile showcase===
Adamson House is best known for its extensive use of locally produced [[Malibu Potteries|Malibu tile]]. In 1926, May K. Rindge (Rhonda Rindge Adamson's mother) established a tileworks east of the Malibu Pier. The factory was run by [[Rufus Keeler]], an innovative ceramic engineer, who worked with local artisans to design decorative art tile, employing more than 100 persons in the late 1920s and creating "some of the most colorful and inventive [[Ceramic glaze|glazed]] tiles in the country."<ref name=link/><ref name=Betsky/><ref name=Malibu>{{cite news|title=Malibu|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1977-03-03}}</ref>  Hand-crafted art tile fired from local [[clay]] was specially designed for each room of the Adamson House.<ref name=link/><ref name=Dreams/>  Even the ceiling of one of the bathrooms was tiled.<ref name=link/> In 1930, the ''Los Angeles Times'' reported: "Striking tile effects have been obtained from original designs of the craftsmen and artists of the pottery and floors, walls and patios."<ref name=Seaside/>  Sixty-seven years later, the ''Los Angeles Times'' was still writing about the home's extraordinary tilework: "This huge Spanish-style mansion, built in 1929 (sic), might as well be called the house that tile built. Tile is everywhere — from the ceramic wall clock above the tile-topped [[oak]] table in the kitchen to the floor-to-ceiling tiled bathrooms."<ref name=Taj/>
[[File:Dog Bath, Adamson House.jpg|right|thumb|Dog bath at Adamson House]]
One of the home's most popular examples of tilework is a {{convert|60|ft|m|adj=on}} imitation [[Persian carpet]] made of tile, including small pieces designed to look like rug fringes.<ref name=link/>  In the exterior of the house, the colorfully tiled Neptune Fountain, Peacock Fountain and Star Fountain are among the home's most photographed examples of tilework.  Nearby, there is also an elaborately tiled outdoor tub used by the Adamsons to bathe their dogs.<ref name=link/> The bathhouse and swimming pool are also covered with Malibu tile, and the dressing rooms have tiled showers with decorative motifs.<ref name=link/>  The house has been called a "museum of tile"<ref name=Glory/> and the "[[Taj Mahal]] of Tile".<ref name=Taj>{{cite news|author=Jane Hulse|title=Jaunts in and around the Valley: Taj Mahal of Tile; Malibu's historic Adamson House is a showcase of colorful ceramic material|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1997-12-18}}</ref> The Malibu Potteries only operated for six years from 1926 to 1932,<ref name=Betsky>{{cite news|author=Aaron Betsky|title=Architecture: Malibu Mansion Still Embodies California Dream|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1993-07-01}}</ref><ref name=Taj/> and the Adamson House has many of the potteries' most significant remaining works.<ref name=Landmark/>
[[File:Bathhouseadamson2012.jpg|thumb|left|alt=The bathhouse featuring interlocking blue and red tile floors, hand-carved wooden support beans, a rod-iron gated outdoor fireplace, and a fresco of a [[Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo|Portuguese]] explorer. |The bathhouse featuring interlocking blue and red tile floors, hand-carved wooden support beans, a rod-iron gated outdoor fireplace, and a fresco of a [[Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo|Portuguese]] explorer. ]]

===Early use===
The house was originally a vacation beach cottage, but the Adamsons eventually made it their permanent home. In December 1932, a fire started in the electrical wiring of the garage. One of the bedrooms was badly damaged, and the entire house was threatened by intense flames. The fire was extinguished by pumping crews from the forestry stations at Fernwood and Las Flores, aided by the Malibu Beach colony fire department.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mrs. Rindge's Daughter Suffers Loss in Fire|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1932-12-12}}</ref> During [[World War II]], the bathhouse was used by the [[United States Coast Guard]] as a local headquarters to watch out over the Malibu coast.<ref name=Dreams/>

===Eminent domain and plans for beach parking===

After the death of her husband, Rhoda Rindge Adamson continued to live in the house until her own death in April 1962.<ref name=Daughter>{{cite news|title=Malibu Ranch Developer's Daughter Dies|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1962-04-03}}</ref>  After her death, her heirs announced plans to build a $10–12{{Nbsp}}million "deluxe [[Waikiki]]-type beach resort" on the {{convert|13|acre|m2|adj=on}} site, while preserving the house as an art and history museum.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pre-trial Conference Set for Beach Area: Court Date Will Be Determined March 30 Regarding Adamson Estate at Malibu|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1967-02-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Final Arguments Due in Adamson Property Suit|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1967-11-26}}</ref>  The State of California, however, filed an [[eminent domain]] lawsuit in 1966,<ref name=Suit>{{cite news|title=Adamson Estate Suit Action Due This Week|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1966-11-20}}</ref> seeking to raze the house and turn it into beach parking.<ref name=Glory>{{cite news|author=Gloria Kaufman Koenig|title=Malibu's House of Living History: Adamson Home Restored to Former Glory As Museum|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1985-08-25}} ("For a while the Adamson House was in danger of being bulldozed to make way for additional beach parking.")</ref><ref name=Saved>{{cite news|author=Gerald Faris|title=Rindge Site to Be Saved for Museum: Retention of Property in Its Present Form Urged by Parks Chief|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1976-05-02}} ("Earlier, a task force of state Parks Department staff personnel recommended that the buildings be razed and the property used for parking, the purpose for which the state originally acquired the land.")</ref><ref name=Ripton>{{cite news|author=Ray Ripton|title=Want It Maintained as Museum: Preservation of Adamson Home Urged|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1968-03-31}} (quoting the chief of the state recreation department's planning and development division as saying "we have to consider the need of the public for beach use -- parking, rest rooms, picnic units -- that sort of thing.")</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Malibu End of Historical Society|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1990-11-29}} ("The state acquired the house and grounds in 1968 and announce plans to tear it down to provide beach parking ...")</ref>  The state won its eminent domain lawsuit and purchased the property from the Adamson estate at the $2.69{{Nbsp}}million valuation set by the court.<ref name=Dreams/><ref>{{cite news|title=State Decision Due on Malibu Land Purchase: Court Order Sets Price at $2.6 Million After State, Private Appraisers Differ|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1968-02-01}}</ref>

===Preservation as a museum===
[[File:Adamson House Entrance.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Entrance to Adamson House off PCH]]
Despite the state's victory in the eminent domain proceeding, the Malibu Historical Society, supported by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and the Adamson family, together with other leading Malibu citizens, fought over the next ten years to have the Adamson House preserved.<ref name=link/><ref name=Ripton/>  While the state's plans to raze the house were put on hold, the house was leased to [[Pepperdine University]] from 1971 to 1982 as the residence of the university's chancellor, Norvel Young.<ref name=link/><ref name=Dreams>{{cite news|title=Malibu Historical Society's Dreams for Adamson Mansion May Be Coming True|date=1978-10-08}}</ref> In addition to its extensive use of Malibu tile, preservationists touted the house as "a prime example of California Moorish-Spanish architecture."<ref name=List/> In 1976, preservationists won a victory when Herbert Rhodes, the director of the state's Department of Parks and Recreation, overruled staff recommendations to use the land for beach parking and recommended preservation of the entire property.<ref name=Saved/>
Sylvia Rindge Adamson Neville, a granddaughter of Frederick Rindge, donated money to help restore the house, and additional funds were raised by the Malibu Historical Society.<ref name=link/> Beginning in October 1982, volunteers from the Malibu Lagoon State Beach Interpretive Association began work converting the garage into a small history museum.<ref name=link/>  In 1983, the house and Malibu Lagoon Museum (located in the garage) were opened to the public for docent-led tours.<ref name=link>{{cite news|author=Bill Rollins|title=Family struggled to preserve property: Tile home a link to Malibu's past|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1984-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=New Malibu museum slates private showing|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1983-10-29}}</ref>  The house is open to the public for tours.

[[File:Neptune Fountain, Adamson House.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|Neptune Fountain detail]]

==In pop culture==

*In 1975, the home was featured in the ''Mannix'' episode "A Word Called Courage". 
* From 1987 through 1989, the home was featured in seasons eight and ten of ''[[Knots Landing]]'', serving as [[Abby Cunningham|Abby Ewing]]'s house.
*In 2020, the Adamson House was featured in the Netflix show ''[[Ratched (TV series)|Ratched]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/dirt/filming-locations/on-ratched-sarah-paulson-checks-into-the-adamson-house-one-of-malibus-first-homes-1234787030/|title=On 'Ratched,' Sarah Paulson Checks into the Adamson House, One of Malibu's First Homes|date=29 September 2020}}</ref>
* In 1985, the home was featured in the [[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]] episode "Deeds and Misdeeds" from Season 8. 
* In 1986, the house is featured as a party house in the Season 3 episode of [[Airwolf (TV series)|Airwolf]] titled “Hawke’s Run"
* The home was featured in the Season 1 episode titled "The Mexican Connection" from [[Charlie's Angels (TV series)|Charlie's Angels]].

==Historic designations==

In October 1977, the house was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name=List>{{cite news|title=Malibu Lagoon Place: Adamson House Put on Historic List|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1977-12-01}}</ref>  And in November 1985, it was also designated as a California Historical Landmark by the California Historic Resources Commission.<ref name=Landmark>{{cite news|title=Three Sites Designated as Historical Landmarks|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1985-11-14}}</ref>

The [[California Historical Landmark]] Marker NO. 966 at the site reads:<ref>[https://www.californiahistoricallandmarks.com/landmarks/chl-966 californiahistoricallandmarks.com  966, Adamson House Los Angeles]</ref>
NO. 966 ADAMSON HOUSE AT MALIBU LAGOON STATE BEACH - Designed by Stiles O. Clements in 1929, this Spanish Colonial Revival home contains the best surviving examples of decorative ceramic tile produced by Malibu Potteries. During its short existence from 1926 to 1932, Malibu Potteries made an outstanding contribution to ceramic art in California through its development and production of a wide range of artistic and colorful decorative tile. The home was built for Merritt Huntley Adamson and Rhoda Rindge Adamson, daughter of [[Frederick Hastings Rindge]] and [[Rhoda May Knight Rindge|May Knight Rindge]], last owners of the Rancho Malibu Spanish grant.

==See also==
*[[Malibu Creek]]
*[[Rindge Dam]]
*[[Frederick Hastings Rindge House]]
*[[Frederick Roehrig]]
*[[List of Registered Historic Places in Los Angeles County, California]]
*[[History of the National Register of Historic Places]]
*[[Hueneme, Malibu and Port Los Angeles Railway]] (The railroad that the Rindges built through Malibu)

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.adamsonhouse.org/ Official '''Adamson House''' website]

{{Malibu, California}}
{{SMMNRA}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in California}}

[[Category:Houses in Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Malibu, California]]
[[Category:Historic house museums in California]]
[[Category:Museums in Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Malibu, California]]
[[Category:Open-air museums in California]]
[[Category:Gardens in California]]
[[Category:Houses completed in 1930]]
[[Category:California Historical Landmarks]]
[[Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in California]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:1930 in California]]
[[Category:History of Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:Santa Monica Mountains]]
[[Category:1930s architecture in the United States]]
[[Category:Morgan, Walls & Clements buildings]]
[[Category:Mediterranean Revival architecture in California]]
[[Category:Moorish Revival architecture in California]]
[[Category:Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in California]]