Chapman, A. H., House
Also known as: Little Chapman Mansion
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Why it's listed
Known locally as the "Little Chapman Mansion," this two-story clapboard house at 256 East 12th Street in Chico grew in stages over about thirty years. A brick pier foundation was laid in 1853, a small house was built on it in 1859, rooms were added in 1870 to form a T-shaped plan, and a second floor was added in 1874. The design follows A. J. Downing's "Cottage in the Rhine Style," and architect Henry Cleaveland, who was in Chico at the time, possibly designed the additions. Augustus Chapman, a hotel, store and lumber mill owner, bought the property in 1870 and laid out the subdivision that became known as Chapmantown. Later owners included A. B. Collins and the Gilman Nelson family, who held it from 1883 to 1921. The house sits at an angle to the streets because it predates them, and the nomination describes it as possibly the only Downing cottage in Chico.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is associated with the whole period of Chico's settlement and with several families representative of the town's economic and civic history. It is also architecturally distinctive as a Downing cottage, apparently designed by architect Henry Cleaveland, and is possibly the only one in Chico.
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 82002170, listed January 28, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 256 E. 12th St., Chico |
|---|---|
| County | Butte County |
| Listed | January 28, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002170 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Possibly Henry W. Cleaveland (architect, 1870-1874); builders William L. Bradley (1870), Leonard Briggs, Cleveland Walker |
| Architectural style | Downing cottage ("Cottage in the Rhine Style") |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; in good condition, with interior renovation under way and exterior restoration of verandas and picket fence planned at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | South of Campus Neighborhood |
| Coordinates | 39.72499, -121.84187 (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 82002170.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4647825
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.