Area Information
The Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society
The Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society is located in the Village of Rancho
Santa Fe at 6036 La Flecha. The society aims to preserve the historical heritage
of the community. When you enter the La Flecha building, you see photographs
of Rancho Santa Fe legends that include Bing Crosby, Douglas Fairbanks, Victor
Mature and other big names from Hollywood that frequented the neighborhood.
In the La Flecha house, the society maintains a historical library and has
produced video tapes highlighting the history of the community. The society
tries to preserve the three main architectural styles of homes in the Covenant:
the Spanish Colonial Revival style inspired by the San Diego Exposition of
1915; the California Ranch style which was an outgrowth of the 19th century
adobe house featuring a single story dwelling, low in profile and closely related
to terraces and gardens and; the Midwestern Prairie style which originated
with the Chicago work of architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
A walk through the village history shows pictures of various historic landmarks
starting with the La Flecha house. This was the first residence designed by
Lilian Rice in 1923. This dwelling was given to the society in 1988 by the
Reitz family.
In 1989, the California State Historical Resources Commission approved the
Covenant area as a designated State Historic Landmark. The village Inn was
also designed by Lilian Rice and originally called La Morada. It continues
as a present-day hotel with a renewed appreciation of its historic tradition¹.
