After gold was discovered, thousands came to California and began building cities and towns. Today's Half Moon Bay grew on the Mexican land grant awarded to Mexican soldier Candelario Miramontes. In 1853 Estanislao Zaballa came from Spain and married the eldest Miramontes daughter, becoming part of the land-rich Miramontes family. Zaballa built this house in the Greek Revival style, a departure from the Mexican adobe style, and became the first city planner for the coastside. He subdivided the community into the streets, lots, and blocks of today's business district. The downtown area still endures with many of the oldest buildings and memories of early California.