Best Cultural Landmark Escondido Near Me

4worldlovers: The Sikes Adobe Farmhouse, located at 12655 Sunset Dr. Escondido, CA, is a State Point of Historic Interest and a City of San Diego historic site that is being restored by the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority to its period of significance. Established around 1870, and featuring one of the area’s oldest adobe homes from the American era, the Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead is a remarkable survivor of San Diego’s rural history and, as such, has a special role to play in preserving the legacy of old California. With the restoration, we can learn what life was like for the pioneer settlers in San Diego shortly after statehood.

The Farmhouse was initially restored in January 2004. In October 2007, the house, except for the adobe walls, burned in the Witch Creek Fire. Rebuilding began in August 2009. The Grand Re-Opening Ceremony was held June 26, 2010. New interior and exterior interpretive exhibits by consultant David Krimmel were unveiled on June 26, 2011.

Sikes is open most Sundays for free tours. Our summer hours are 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Visit the events calendar to find the next tour date!

Additionally, Sikes is currently available for tours by reservation. To schedule an appointment for your group or school field trip, contact Leana Bulay at leana@sdrp.org or (858) 674-2275 x18.

Turn right onto Sunset Dr. (1st traffic light from northbound I-15; 2nd traffic light from southbound I-15)

4worldlovers:

This is the ancestral land of the First People, the Kumeyaay.


Esta es la tierra ancestral de las Primeras Personas, los Kumeyaay.



To watch the full videos, please press the full screen button after pressing play.


San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park, east of Escondido, honors the soldiers who fought in the battle between the U.S. and Californio forces on December 6, 1846 in the midst of the Mexican-American War. Generals Stephen Kearny and Andrés Pico both claimed victory. The battle was only one of the military encounters in California in the war, but it proved to be the bloodiest and most controversial as to the outcome. The park has been set aside, not as a monument to war, but as a reminder of the human ideals, actions and passions that can drive nations to bloodshed.

Special group tours are available upon request. For more information, please call Old Town San Diego State Historic Park at 619-220-5422.

Though we typically commemorate the Battle of San Pasqual in December, we hope you enjoy our Virtual Battle Day Event. Featuring an 18-minute documentary on the battle, plus additional videos, articles, and books for further exploration, and youth educational materials like lesson plans, hands-on activities, and more, there is something for everyone to enjoy! Though we’re disappointed we can’t commemorate this event together, we hope you enjoy the Virtual Battle Day at San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park.

Rattlesnakes have been spotted on the trails. Please be keep an eye out when you hike.

See our trail guide for information about the trails at San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park.

4worldlovers: But the Santa Fe Train Depot will continue to be open


The Office & Research Center is closed but is expected to re-open on February 1, 2023.

The Hoffman House remains closed for repairs, however, the Train Depot is open 1:00 - 4:00 on Thursdays and Saturdays.

We're looking for great volunteers to welcome guests and provide information in the Train Depot, Pullman Car, and Victorian House! We provide training. Please click on the button for more info.

Blacksmithing and Wheelwright activity can be seen most Tuesdays and Saturdays in the Bandy Blacksmith and Wheelwright Shop. Classes are also offered on a regular basis. For more information, click here.

No charge for admission to museum buildings but donations are gratefully accepted.

Closed until February1, the Museum Office and Research Center features Cassou Family and World War I/Spanish Flu exhibits.​

Closed for maintenance, the Victorian Country House furnished in the style of the turn of the 20th century.

Railroad Depot Office and Waiting Room, with extensive displays of historical artifacts from Escondido history, are located in the Santa Fe Depot. Open Thursdays and Saturdays from 1:00-4:00 pm

H-O model train in the Pullman Train Car, closed for for maintenance.

It's almost always a great day to visit Grape Day Park!

We thank our amazing volunteers who make it possible for us to carry out our mission.

4worldlovers: To report a water leak, sewer spill or pressure problem, call 619-515-3525

To start, stop or transfer your water service, or to update your account information, please click here.

4worldlovers: THE EXHIBIT IS NOT OPEN WHEN IT IS RAINING OR IF IT HAS RAINED WITHIN THE LAST 24-48 HOURS.


2nd & 4th Saturdays of each month - 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.


Information, including hours and directions, can be obtained by calling 760-839-4000.


Queen Califia's Magical Circle is located in the Iris Sankey Arboretum in Escondido's Kit

Carson Park. The park's entrance is five minutes from the Via Rancho Parkway exit of I-15 at

The intersection of Bear Valley Parkway and Mary Lane; then follow signs to parking.

Donations to the Foundation - Click here to donate online or scan QR code below

Queen Califia's Magical Circle is the only American sculpture garden and the last major international project created by Niki de Saint Phalle (born France, 1930-2002). Inspired by California's mythic, historic and cultural roots, the garden consists of nine large-scale sculptures, a circular "snake wall" and maze entryway, sculpturally integrated bench seating, and native shrubs and trees planted within the interior plaza and along the outer perimeter. The garden bears the brilliant, unique mosaic ornamentation that is an unmistakable part of Saint Phalle's later work.

Queen Califia's Magical Circle is situated within a 12-acre natural habitat in the Iris Sankey Arboretum in Kit Carson Park on a parcel of land donated by the City of Escondido. The park's entrance is located five minutes from I-15 (Via Rancho Parkway Exit) at the corner of Bear Valley Parkway and Mary Lane.

The sculpture garden's key architectural features are an undulating circular wall measuring 400 feet in length (with varying heights from 4 to 9 feet) that surrounds the garden. Monumental playful serpents, decorated in colorfully patterned mosaics, slither along the top of the wall, their curved bodies forming a pattern of solids and voids that allows visitors to see landscape vistas beyond the garden. The "snake wall" opens into a maze whose walls and floors are covered with black, white, and mirrored tiles. Once through the maze, visitors enter into the central courtyard.

There are nine freestanding sculptures in the garden. The imposing mosaic sculpture of Queen Califia standing on the back of a five-legged eagle commands the center of the garden. Eight large totemic sculptures surround Queen Califia. They are covered with symbols and forms freely drawn from Native American, Pre-Columbian, and Mexican art as well as the artist's own fantastic imagery.

Press Release: Niki de Saint Phalle's Queen Califia's Magical Circle Opens in Escondido, California, October 26, 2003.