{"nrhp_refnum":"77000345","name":"St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"Market and San Fernando Sts.","address_restricted":false,"city":"San Jose","county":"Santa Clara County","state":"CA","lat":37.33403757200006,"lon":-121.89054372799995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1977-08-26","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["state"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A Roman Catholic church at Market and San Fernando Streets in downtown San Jose, California, designed by architect Bryan Clinch of Hoffman and Clinch, San Francisco. Construction began in 1875 and was completed about ten years later; 1877 is given as the specific date.","why_significant":"The nomination presents it as an excellent example of the monumental classicizing architecture that dominated public and religious buildings after the Civil War. Its design freely adapts elements from Wren's St. Paul's and Borromini's St. Agnese. It is described as the most imposing church in the Santa Clara Valley, and it is technically notable for its double-shell dome and prefabricated sheet metal columns. It also houses the oldest non-mission Catholic congregation in California.","narrative":"St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church occupies a corner at Market and San Fernando Streets in the plaza area of downtown San Jose. Architect Bryan Clinch of Hoffman and Clinch designed it, with construction beginning in 1875 and finishing about a decade later. It is the fourth building to serve the congregation on this site, which is the oldest non-mission Catholic congregation in California. A large dome rises over the sanctuary, four smaller domes cover the shrines, and two bell towers flank a portico with four giant Corinthian columns. The interior follows a Greek cross plan with elliptical barrel vaults and a stained glass oculus. The design draws loosely on Wren's St. Paul's Cathedral and Borromini's St. Agnese. The building is also noted for its double-shell dome and prefabricated sheet metal columns. Damaged lightly in 1906, it was restored in 1952 after structural defects were found in the dome and walls. It remains in religious use and is in good condition.","period_of_significance":"1800-1899; 1900- (specific date 1877; congregation 1803-present)","architect_builder":"Bryan Clinch (Bryan James Clinch of Hoffman and Clinch, architects, San Francisco)","architectural_style":"Heroic post-Civil War classicism (\"General Grant Classic\") with Baroque-inspired elements","criteria":[],"status_note":"Described as in good condition; occupied and in religious use. Minor damage in the 1906 earthquake, and a total structural restoration costing $150,000 in 1952.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:31.610054-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_CA/77000345.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/77000345/5fdf0a2613-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/77000345/5fdf0a2613-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":null,"credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:San_Jose_Basilica.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Unknown author</a>, <a href=\"http://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:San_Jose_Basilica.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123861801","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_Basilica_of_St._Joseph_(San_Jose,_California)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5052195"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/california/santa-clara-county/st-josephs-roman-catholic-church-77000345/"}