for some time under a provision in Gobernador Echeandía's 1826 Proclamation that allowed for the partial conversion of missions to pueblos. The site was also the scene of the April 1838 battle between the forces of Juan Bautista Alvarado and Carlos Antonio Carrillo in which the provincial governorship of Alta California was contested. The former estancia formed part of an 1841 Mexican land grant for the "Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores", granted to the Pico brothers. They built a large traditional Spanish adobe on the estancia grounds, and operated a sheep ranch into the 1860s, when it failed due to drought. In 1864 Pio Pico sold the Las Flores ranch to his brother-in-law, Juan Forster, who made it part of a much larger () ranch. The ranch was acquired in 1941 by the United States Government when it established the United States Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton. The government subsequently leased around the estancia to the Boy Scouts of America. In 1974, the Boy Scouts constructed a camp (Rancho Las Flores) on the property which is visited by thousands of scouts and other youth annually. Las Flores Adobe The Las Flores Adobe was built in 1867-68 by Marco Forster, the son of Juan Forster. It is located on the west side of Stuart Mesa Road, near its junction with Las Pulgas Road. It is a large U-shaped structure, with a main two-story section forming one side of the U, and single-story sections forming its other elements. The two-story section is a late but high quality example of Monterey Colonial architecture, with a wood frame, plastered adobe walls, and a wooden veranda encircling it. The building underwent a major restoration beginning 2001, sponsored by the Marine Corps and the Camp Pendleton Historical Society. The society leads periodic tours of the site. See also List of Spanish missions in California San Antonio de Pala Asistencia Luiseño Mission Indians California mission clash of cultures Mission San Juan Capistrano Mission San Luis Rey de Francia List of National Historic Landmarks in California National Register of Historic Places in San Diego County, California Notes References External links Camp Pendleton Historical Society Description of Site Spanish missions in California 1823 in Alta California Adobe buildings and structures in California Churches in San Diego County, California California Historical Landmarks National Register of Historic Places in San Diego County, California Properties of religious function on the National Register