History · Red Hill
María Merced Williams & John Rains House
An 1860 brick rancho on the National Register — currently closed, so call before you go.
The María Merced Williams & John Rains House is an 1860 brick rancho on Red Hill, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and operated by the San Bernardino County Museum, with free admission when it's open.
That last clause is doing real work: the house is temporarily closed as of June 29, 2026. Don't drive over on the strength of an old blog post — call (909) 798-8608 and ask about reopening before you go. We'll update this listing when it does.
When it reopens, it's the kind of stop this site exists for: an actual surviving building from the rancho era, free to see, minutes from wherever you already are. Pair it with the vineyard-era landmarks along Foothill for a short history loop.
Nearby & related
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Cucamonga Service Station & Route 66 Museum
A 1915 filling station, restored — the only one of its kind left on Route 66 in California.
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Thomas Winery Plaza
Not a winery anymore — a retail plaza on the site of California's first commercial winery, planted in 1839.
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Virginia Dare Winery Tower
The 1908 bell tower of the old Virginia Dare Winery, standing over an office plaza — a two-minute landmark stop.