St. George Hotel
Why it's listed
Rising three stories above the main road into Volcano, California, this brick hotel was built in 1867 and contains 14 rooms, with porches wrapping its front and south sides. Its walls are 14 inches thick, and it is based on Greek Revival forms popular in the eastern United States. The brick design stayed cool in summer and was more fireproof than the frame buildings that came before it. Three earlier hotels on the site burned between 1853 and 1862, and the 1867 building was named St. George to ward off fire. It has served as the community's main hotel for more than 115 years, though it was a boarding house and stood vacant for a time before a 1932 restoration that added a bar, rear additions and a hipped roof. Porch railings were replaced in the 1950s. The hotel is recognized as an outstanding example of Gold Rush era commercial building and as the landmark of a once-thriving mining town.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hotel is an outstanding example of California Gold Rush era commercial architecture, showing Greek Revival influence from the early years of statehood. It is the fourth hotel on its site, the earlier three having burned, and has operated almost continuously for over 115 years. It is also the landmark and predominant building on the town's historic main street.
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 84000757, listed September 7, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2 Main St., Volcano |
|---|---|
| County | Amador County |
| Listed | September 7, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000757 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1867 (specific date); 1900- period box also checked |
| Architect / builder | Builder/Architect unknown; the text says the present hotel was built in 1867 by B. F. George |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival influence; Gold Rush era commercial architecture |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and still operating as a hotel with dining room and bar; altered in 1932 and the 1950s with a hipped roof, bar, rear additions and new porch railings. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 38.44180, -120.63062 (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 84000757.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q65087405
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.