Kellogg House, a Cal Poly Pomona historical landmark, celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.
The home was built in 1926 by breakfast cereal magnate and Arabian horse breeder Will Keith Kellogg. The historic residence is used for weddings, birthday parties, retreats, tours and other special occasions, with nearly 100 events and tours booked in 2016 alone.
Originally from Battle Creek, Michigan, Kellogg longed for a winter residence and a place to raise his Arabian horses. In 1925, almost 20 years after he launched Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Kellogg purchased 377 acres of land in Pomona for $250,000. Kellogg House was built the following year for $150,000.
Myron Hunt, a distinguished architect whose projects included the Pasadena Rose Bowl and the Huntington Library, designed Kellogg House. The architectural style is typical of a ranch house, but the home features many finer details, such as the hand-painted ceiling beams in the dining room where Kellogg’s initials are worked into the pattern. Additionally, since Kellogg enjoyed pipe organ music, the basement was designed to hold a pipe organ chamber.
Kellogg hired renowned landscape architect Charles Gibbs Adams, whose work included the Hearst Castle gardens in San Simeon, California. Adams designed the lush surroundings outside of Kellogg House with colorful plants and meandering pathways for walking, riding or driving.
Although Kellogg House is 8,777 square feet, the home feels more intimate due to its many cozy rooms, which were built for Kellogg’s friends and family who visited frequently. The extra rooms also allowed Kellogg to accommodate the Army during World War II.
Kellogg entertained many celebrities of his day, including former President Ronald Reagan, Walt Disney, Will Rogers, Rudolph Valentino, Gary Cooper and Charles Lindbergh. Kellogg and his famous guests enjoyed walking around the grounds and visiting his Arabian horses.
In 1998, Kellogg House underwent a five-month renovation project. The craftsmanship of the initial architect and builders was so exceptional that only minimal structural repair was required. The weathered features of the house, such as the plumbing fixtures, wrought
iron banisters on both the master bedroom verandas, and the wall sconces in the living room were restored to match the original items. The only improvements to the home are an upgraded electrical system, interior ventilation, irrigation system, and a wheelchair access ramp and restroom. Most of the furniture and décor are original pieces once owned by Kellogg and his family.
Open houses are provided free to the public on the first Sunday of each month, October through April, in conjunction with the Kellogg Arabian Horse Show. Group tour packages are also available. Private tours are available for those interested in booking a wedding or other special event.
Surplus funds generated by Kellogg House are given to the university to support various campus programs and services, including educational grants and student scholarships.