Old Borges Ranch
Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County, California
Marker Inscription
"OLD BORGES RANCH" Walnut Creek's Old Borges Ranchhouse, as the cornerstone of a working cattle ranch, was first built by Frank (Francisco) and his wife Mary Borges, their sons and daughters in 1899. Since then, this house has withstood five generations of hard working, energetic and proud Borges Family, and now has come to life again as the Old Borges Ranchhouse and Visitor Center for the 2,600 acre Walnut Creek Open Space. The integrity of this century-old building has been preserved through thoughtful restoration and the generosity of the Borges Family, City of Walnut Creek, State of California Office of Historic Preservation and the Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation. The Old Borges Ranch was placed or the National Register of Historic Places in 1981, and has since been proud to open its doors to public and schools as an integral part of our western heritage. "THIS PLAQUE IS A GIFT FROM THE BORGES FAMILY" GIVEN THIS YEAR, 1991
The Story
Frank and Mary Borges built this ranchhouse in 1899 as the heart of a working cattle ranch in the hills above Walnut Creek. Five generations of the Borges family worked the land before the house was restored and reopened as a visitor center for a 2,600-acre open space preserve, and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
Why it matters
The ranch preserves a piece of California's cattle-ranching heritage and the state's shift from open range to protected open space.
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Related people
- · Frank (Francisco) Borges
- · Mary Borges
Themes & tags
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