Jacoby Building
Also known as: Jacoby's Storehouse; Brizard Building
Why it's listed
Facing the plaza in Arcata, California, this four-story commercial building began as a two-story storehouse of locally made brick and quarried stone, built in 1857 for merchant Augustus Jacoby by the San Francisco builders Webb and Kincaid. Its thick walls and iron shutters made it a fort-like refuge for townspeople during conflicts between settlers and Native Americans in the late 1850s. Goods arriving at Humboldt Bay were repacked here and sent by mule train to mining camps and communities in the interior. Alexander Brizard bought the building in 1880, altered the front in 1896 with a glass storefront, and enlarged it in 1907 to 50 by 185 feet and four stories. A 1977 rehabilitation kept the size, shape and basic materials, added stucco to the outer walls, and adapted the interior for new uses. The nomination calls it the first fireproof building in Humboldt County and emphasizes its long commercial role.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is the first fireproof building in Humboldt County and is significant for its architecture and for its role in exploration/settlement, commerce and transportation. Goods landed at Humboldt Bay were transshipped from it by mule pack train to the interior. It also housed A. Brizard's firm, the leading general mercantile business in northwestern California, and served as a refuge during conflicts in the late 1850s.
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 82002179, listed June 17, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 791 8th St., Arcata |
|---|---|
| County | Humboldt County |
| Listed | June 17, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002179 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | 1857: Webb & Kincaid (San Francisco builders); 1907: Nelson Johansen / Warren Skillings |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Preserved and rehabilitated in 1977 as Jacoby's Storehouse, with rental units; the form lists it as occupied and in commercial use, in excellent condition but altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.86821, -124.08719 (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 82002179.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q122766958
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.