Hoopa Valley Adobe
Also known as: Quarters for four sublaturns; No. 1 Abobe building, Fort Gaston (Smith 1877)
Why it's listed
Built around 1860 as quarters for army officers at Fort Gaston, this adobe house in Hoopa, California, is the last surviving building of the fort. It is one and one-half stories tall, with a side-gabled roof, a front veranda and a center-passage plan measuring 36 by 28 feet. Walls of unfired adobe brick sit on a slate foundation, a method suited to the area's wet climate. Original features include tall front windows, corner fireplaces, fir floors and steep attic stairs. A rear wing was added in 1976, and the original Greek Revival dormer pediments are gone. The fort was established in 1858 in the heart of Hupa territory, and officers who lived in the house took part in local fighting during the Indian Wars. After the post closed in 1892, the grounds passed to the Indian agency and later a boarding school. The building now stands isolated on tribal trust land and is currently vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building retains nearly all of its original elements and shows the character of an army officer's residence at a frontier fort. Its occupants took part in Indian Wars actions, and it is tied to the later history of the Hupa, the fort and the Indian agency and boarding school periods. Its adobe construction on a slate foundation also shows adaptation to a wet climate.
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 10000893, listed January 7, 2013. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Campus St, Hoopa |
|---|---|
| County | Humboldt County |
| Listed | January 7, 2013 |
| Reference number | 10000893 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1860 to 1892 |
| Architectural style | MID 19th CENTURY: Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed current function is vacant/not in use (work in progress); the building largely retains its original fabric, apart from a 1976 back extension and attic interior changes. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.04733, -123.67863 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 10000893.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133267459
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.