[2] The building is a two-story ranch house typical of Californian design in the mid-19th century.

The walls of the house are of thick adobe brick, the foundation consists of rough-cut stone.

The front and southern sides of the house have wooden wrap-around porches at each level.

Wood shingles of either cedar or redwood originally covered the roof.

[3] The Martínez Adobe is now part of the John Muir National Historic Site and is open to the public.