Wellman Hall
Also known as: Agriculture Hall
.JPG){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Wellman Hall sits at the top of a rise on the central Berkeley campus of the University of California, its main facade facing south along the campus's major east-west axis. John Galen Howard designed it as Agriculture Hall, and it was dedicated on November 20, 1912. It was renamed in 1967 for Harry Richard Wellman, then Acting President of the University. The building has a rusticated granite base, a tiled hip roof, a copper cornice and a central projecting apse with an arched entrance. Howard specified high-quality granite, copper and terra cotta. It was the first building of the agriculture complex, which also includes Hilgard and Giannini Halls, and it remains the centerpiece. Entomology and landscape gardening programs used it early on. Landscape Architecture moved out in 1965-1966, and the building was remodeled for Entomology, though the exterior remained intact. It was listed for its link to California agricultural education and its Classic design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is important for its association with agricultural education and development in California. It was the first building of the Agricultural complex and remains its centerpiece. Architecturally it is a notable example of the flexibility of the Classic tradition.
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 82004653, listed March 25, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Oxford St., Berkeley |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | March 25, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004653 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-present |
| Architect / builder | John Galen Howard |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classic; Beaux Arts academic-Classic with romantic-Classic influence of the French school of Ledoux |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good, altered, original site; interior remodeled in 1965-1966 for the Entomology Department without impairing exterior integrity. |
| Coordinates | 37.87323, -122.26283 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 82004653.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q119361209
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.