Berkeley Hillside Club
Also known as: 2286 Cedar Street
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1924, this redwood-shingled clubhouse at 2286 Cedar Street in Berkeley serves the Berkeley Hillside Club, a civic and social group founded in 1898. Described as a good late example of the First Bay Area Tradition shingle style, it has gabled roofs with wide boxed eaves, a pointed-arch entrance, and a large stone chimney with a stained glass window dated in Greek numerals. Inside are a two-story auditorium with stage, a balcony, a kitchen and dining room, a basement with dressing rooms, and a manager's apartment. The building replaced an earlier clubhouse designed by Bernard Maybeck in 1906, after the 1923 Berkeley Hills fire. It is recognized for its role from 1924 to 1954, when the club shifted from neighborhood planning advocacy toward dances, theater and lectures, and acted as a social hub for North Berkeley residents and University of California faculty. Alterations have been minimal, including a wheelchair ramp and some replaced shingles.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A as headquarters of a civic and social couples club from 1924 to 1954. The club provided social cohesion for North Berkeley and University of California faculty through dances, theater and other activities. Its rebuilding after the 1923 Berkeley Hills fire reflected a shift from civic action to social and cultural interests.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 04000332, listed April 16, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2286 Cedar St., Berkeley |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | April 16, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000332 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924-1954 |
| Architect / builder | White, John |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements (First Bay Area Tradition shingle style) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Has undergone little alteration since construction and remains in excellent condition; still used as a clubhouse. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.87872, -122.26483 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 04000332.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5763908
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.