Stone House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1888 at 902 14th Street in Arcata, this two-and-a-half-story wood house is a textbook example of Queen Anne design. It has a corner tower, multiple rooflines, pedimented gables, bay windows, a Palladian window, and varied shingle and shiplap siding. Contractor Theodore Dean built it for $6,500 for Wesley Whipple Stone, who came to Arcata in 1886 and opened the Bank of Arcata, the town's first bank. Stone later served as the bank's president. The house belongs to a group of elaborate buildings erected between 1884 and 1888 during a lumber-industry boom. It sits in what the nomination calls Arcata's most important architectural district, and a near mirror-image house stands at the far corner of the block. Exterior changes are limited to brick front steps, a partly glassed-in porch, and some added windows. The interior retains its redwood woodwork, stained glass, fireplaces, and original room arrangement.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as an excellent, classic example of Queen Anne architecture and one of about a dozen buildings forming the core of Arcata's most important architectural district. It retains a high degree of architectural integrity, with only minor exterior changes. It is also associated with Wesley Whipple Stone, Arcata's first banker.
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 86000267, listed February 27, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 902 Fourteenth St., Arcata |
|---|---|
| County | Humboldt County |
| Listed | February 27, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000267 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Theodore Dean |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in good condition; used as a private residence and as a bed and breakfast inn, with minor alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.87362, -124.08656 (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 86000267.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133266840
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.