Pacific Press Building
Why it's listed
This Italianate frame building at 1117 Castro Street in Oakland was put up in 1875 as a publishing and printing house for the Seventh Day Adventists, under the direction of James White. It is laid out as a Greek cross, a plan chosen to admit more light, and rises two and one-half stories above a basement. Carved brackets decorate the hooded main door and the windows, and a high gabled roof carries a cupola with palladian windows. In 1880 the building was raised and the basement enlarged to hold a press room and engine room. Later additions included a three-story building behind it and a two-story engine room on Twelfth Street; only the original building survives. The firm produced books and periodicals on education, health, religion and local history, including Sign of the Times and Album of Oakland. With departments for bookbinding, engraving, printing, electrotyping and stereotyping, it became the largest publishing firm on the West Coast, distributing nationwide.
Significance in brief: The building housed the Pacific Press Publishing Company, described as the largest and finest publishing firm on the West Coast, with nationwide distribution of books and periodicals. It served as the primary center for the Seventh Day Adventists, providing housing and employment. It is also an example of Italianate detailing with a Greek cross plan and cupola.
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 75000421, listed April 14, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1117 Castro St., Oakland |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | April 14, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000421 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1875-1904 |
| Architectural style | Italianate (Victorian) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture, Communications |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in fair condition and altered by rear extensions of the sides; the form's data sheet lists current use as residential. The original building is the only structure of the complex still remaining. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 37.80501, -122.27850 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 75000421.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.