Gano, Peter, House
Also known as: Holly Hill House (Lookout Cot.)
Why it's listed
Perched on a bluff above Avalon Bay on Santa Catalina Island, this three-story Queen Anne house was built between 1888 and 1890 by Peter Gano, a Midwestern civil engineer and skilled woodcarver who retired to the island from Pasadena. No architect is recorded; Gano likely adapted a pattern book design. He made much of the interior woodwork, exterior trim, two cisterns and a sundial himself. The basement is local stone set with shells and Indian artifacts, and a circular cupola crowns the wood upper floors. Materials came from the mainland on his sailboat and were hauled uphill by a horse-powered pulley. The house is the third oldest surviving home in Avalon and the island's finest Queen Anne example, and one of few survivors from the resort's first building boom. The Giddings family bought it in 1921 and renamed it Holly Hill House. A 1964 fire damaged the cupola roof, and the present owner has since restored the house with period furnishings.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to the development of Avalon as a vacation resort during the land speculation that followed the transcontinental railroad's arrival in Southern California. It is the third oldest surviving home in Avalon and the island's most outstanding example of Queen Anne architecture, noted for its craftsmanship and detailing. It is one of few homes left from the earlier development period before the 1915 fire and the 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival rebuilding.
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 83001194, listed September 15, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 718 Crescent Ave., Avalon |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | September 15, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001194 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific date 1890) |
| Architect / builder | Peter Gano (builder-owner); no architect recorded |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition, under ongoing restoration to its turn-of-the-century appearance; used as a vacation home and open for guided group tours by appointment. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 33.34284, -118.32309 (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 83001194.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q65043792
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.