Casa de Parley Johnson is a two-story Monterey-style residence designed by noted architect Roland E. Coate. Coate, a proponent of the Monterey style, was known for his designs that derived inspiration from Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and typified the Southern California lifestyle of the 1920s and 1930s.

Designed for Parley Johnson, a prominent local citrus farmer, and his wife, Geline “Gypsy” Johnson, the home and its gardens were originally situated in the center of the Johnsons’ fifty acres of orange groves.

Surrounded by whitewashed walls, the house features balconies and patios integrating the interior spaces with the outdoors. Outside, the lushly landscaped gardens include fountains and a formal lawn.

Over time, the property has retained a great deal of architectural integrity amidst its landscaped setting, providing a unique sense of time and place. Parley Johnson’s widow Gypsy lived in the house until her death in 1986, when it was bequeathed to the Assistance League of Downey. The Conservancy holds a façade easement on the exterior of the residence and walled garden area.