Martinez Adobe Closed for Structural Repairs

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Martinez, CA – After a thorough analysis of structural and seismic information, the staff at John Muir National Historic Site has determined that the Martinez Adobe must be closed until structural repairs and stabilization can occur. The park consulted with an adobe expert (structural engineer) through the National Park Service’s Vanishing Treasures Program to help evaluate the Martinez Adobe. The analysis shows that in its current condition, it is highly unlikely the building would be able withstand a major earthquake on either the Hayward, Concord/Green Valley, or San Andreas faults, with the Hayward and Concord/Green Valley faults being the most threatening to this structure.  

For safety reasons, access to the Martinez Adobe is blocked off from the public and remains closed for all use until the structure is stabilized. Currently, there is no timeline for the repairs to be complete.  

The Martinez Adobe houses the only permanent bilingual exhibit about the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.  The Anza Trail commemorates the route taken by Spanish Colonists in 1775-76 to found the Mission and Presidio of San Francisco.  The Adobe is located near the historic corridor of the colonizing expedition. 

Created in 1964, John Muir NHS preserves the home, landscapes, and gravesite of conservationist and national park advocate John Muir. Muir spent his entire life exploring, studying, and writing about his experiences in the American wilderness, most notably the Sierra Nevada Mountains. His writing set the stage for a conservation movement that would spur the protection of nature worldwide and ultimately earn Muir the title “Father of the National Parks”.

John Muir NHS, located at 4202 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez, California 94553, is open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission to the site is free of charge. For more information, please visit the park website at www.nps.gov/jomu or call (925) 228-8860 x0. 

www.nps.gov