Whaley House
Why it's listed
Built in February 1855 by pioneer settler John A. Whaley, this redwood house at 1395 H Street in Arcata is a one-and-a-half story Greek Revival cottage with a front-facing gable, a veranda on tapered posts, returned eaves and a wide molded frieze. Whaley, a New York native who worked as a saddler, local official and revenue collector, lived there with his wife Emily and their children. His widow sold the house in 1899, and in 1903 Charles W. Hill, a logger from New Brunswick, bought it and moved it about a block and a half to its present corner lot, where two side bays were probably added. It was later converted to apartments. The house was listed because it is one of only five known surviving 1850s residences in Arcata and the only remaining Greek Revival cottage with the double galleries and French doors typical of settlement-era California. Its setting of old orchard trees and a picket fence supports that character.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a significant part of Arcata's architectural heritage. It is one of only five remaining residences known to date from the 1850s and the only remaining Greek Revival cottage with the double galleries and French doors typical of settlement-period California. Its history also spans nearly the whole of Arcata's own history.
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 79000475, listed December 31, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1395 H St., Arcata |
|---|---|
| County | Humboldt County |
| Listed | December 31, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000475 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John A. Whaley |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | At the time of nomination the house was deteriorated and occupied as a three-apartment rental; new owners planned structural repair and restoration. A later owner letter says rehabilitation was completed and the apartments were rented and occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.87282, -124.08536 (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 79000475.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133266724
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.