As cars on the San Diego Freeway...

As cars on the San Diego Freeway (405) whiz past the Centinela Adobe in Westchester, it is hard to imagine the bucolic scene of grazing livestock, barley fields and fruit trees that once surrounded the house.

But step inside the one-story adobe structure at 7634 Midfield Ave. and the sense of history becomes more vivid. Except for a few additions and refinements, little has changed in the house since it was built nearly 160 years ago.

Today, from 6 to 8 p.m., the Historical Society of Centinela Valley offers its annual holiday open house at the Centinela Adobe.

“We want to educate the community about the historical background of the area so they can become more aware of their heritage,” said Margaret Bates, the society’s publicity chairwoman.

The Centinela Adobe, or La Casa del Rancho Ajuaje de la Centinela, as it was once known, is a good place to begin the history lesson. Built in 1834 by Ygnacio Machado, a former Mexican soldier, the house was the center of a 25,000-acre working ranch, said Rose Sonnleitner, who gives tours of the house.

Using sun-dried clay bricks, Machado built a typical adobe with 16-inch walls, three rooms in a row and an open-air kitchen, Sonnleitner said.

Embroiled in a series of claim disputes, the ranch changed hands several times and was whittled down to a little more than 2,200 acres. In 1860, the ranch and the adobe house passed into the hands of Sir Robert Burnett. He raised sheep and cattle for 13 years before he returned to his native Scotland.

Daniel Freeman, a Canadian immigrant in search of a warm climate for his ill wife, bought the ranch from Burnett and became its most noted owner. Freeman amassed a fortune from farming, shipping and shrewd land deals. Later, he turned to philanthropy and helped found Inglewood.

Freeman willed the house to his daughters, who lived there for a period of time early in this century. Over the years, portions of the surrounding ranch were converted to housing tracts, and another part was added to Los Angeles International Airport.

In 1965, the historical society acquired the house to save it from being bulldozed to make room for new houses, said Leonard R. Utter, the society’s president.

Visitors to this evening’s open house can tour the adobe, Freeman’s old land office and the Heritage Center, which features thousands of old photographs, vintage clothing and other memorabilia.

Two hundred luminarias--candles in open, sand-filled paper bags--will light the circular driveway leading to the adobe. Hot cider, homemade cookies and the singing of the New Sounds of Hawthorne await visitors to this free event.

The adobe is open every Wednesday and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. Call (310) 649-6272 for information.

From Manchester Avenue, turn north onto Hindry Avenue in Westchester near the San Diego Freeway, then right on 82nd Street and follow the curve to Midfield Avenue.