{"nrhp_refnum":"11000932","name":"Fresno County Hall of Records","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"2281 Tulare St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Fresno","county":"Fresno County","state":"CA","lat":36.73616049300006,"lon":-119.78815146099998,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"2011-12-22","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A three-story reinforced concrete government office building with a full basement at 2281 Tulare Street, Fresno, California, built 1935-1937 with an annex added in 1954-1955. Designed in a PWA Deco Moderne style.","why_significant":"The building is argued to be a masterly example of PWA Deco Moderne architecture with stylized Neoclassical elements, with superior aesthetics and workmanship. It is the work of designer Henry P. Villalon, features terra cotta bas-reliefs by Gladding, McBean, and was sensitively enlarged by architect Maurice J. Metz.","narrative":"Fresno County Hall of Records is a three-story government office building at Tulare and M streets in Fresno, sitting in the southeast corner of Courthouse Park. Built of reinforced concrete in 1935-1937 with a full basement, it carries Art Deco and stylized Neoclassical details, including cast aluminum spandrel panels, terra cotta medallions and a zigzag floral parapet frieze. Inside, the public corridors retain terrazzo floors, marble veneers and Art Deco light fixtures. The project grew from a 1928 grand jury warning that county records were at risk of fire, and was funded through local bonds and a Public Works Administration grant. Although Allied Architects received corporate credit, the design was by Henry P. Villalon. An annex designed by Maurice J. Metz was added in 1954-1955 and kept in harmony with the original. The building is recognized for its architecture, its terra cotta work by Gladding, McBean, and its well-preserved public spaces. A 2002-2004 restoration left it in excellent condition.","period_of_significance":"1937-1955","architect_builder":"Villalon, Henry P.; Metz, Maurice J.","architectural_style":"Modern Movement/Moderne (PWA Deco Moderne with stylized Neoclassical details)","criteria":["C"],"status_note":"In government office use; described as in excellent condition following a 2002-2004 restoration and refurbishing project.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:54:29.812853-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_CA/11000932.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/11000932/d22fd58e75-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/11000932/d22fd58e75-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"Wearsunscreen","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fresno_Hall_of_Records.JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">Wearsunscreen</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fresno_Hall_of_Records.JPG"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123858650","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133260614"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/california/fresno-county/fresno-county-hall-of-records-11000932/"}