Janssen, E., Building
Also known as: Humboldt Cultural Center
Why it's listed
Built in 1875 at 422 First Street in Eureka, this two-story brick loft building was planned as the mercantile center of the North Coast. It measures 34 by 110 feet and has a flat roof, wood-frame floors, interior wood columns and a street front of cast iron and glass. The iron columns carry the mark of the San Francisco Iron Works, 1875. Inside, the building held Eureka's first elevator, a water-powered unit that remained the only one in the northern part of the state for many years, and its equipment still survives along with long classical-style shelving. In 1889 Hans Henry Buhne, an early Humboldt Bay settler and business leader, took over the building and business and turned it into a ship's chandlery supplying Eureka-based coastal vessels. A later mezzanine with turned spindles gives the main room a ship-like feel. After a vacancy, the building was rehabilitated, its iron front restored, and it was slated to serve as an art and cultural center.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a well-preserved 1875 mercantile building with a cast iron front shipped from San Francisco. It housed the first elevator installed in Eureka, and its water-powered equipment still remains. It is also tied to Hans Henry Buhne, who ran it as a ship's chandlery, and it survives as a reminder of North Coast early days.
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 73000402, listed July 16, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 422 1st St., Eureka |
|---|---|
| County | Humboldt County |
| Listed | July 16, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000402 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (constructed 1875) |
| Architectural style | California Gold Rush style or California Renaissance |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition. It fell vacant within the past year, was then rehabilitated with its iron front restored, and was slated to become an art and cultural center. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Within district | Eureka Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.80491, -124.16748 (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 73000402.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16890815
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.