Grey, Zane, Estate
Why it's listed
This three-story house at the foot of the Altadena foothills was built in 1907 and later became the home of Western novelist Zane Grey. It is designed in the Mission/Spanish Colonial variant of Mediterranean Revival style, with reinforced concrete and stucco walls, arched wood windows and doors, balconies, and a terra-cotta tile roof added over the original steel. After buying the property in 1920, Grey added a third-floor writing studio, and an east wing followed in 1928. Interiors blend Arts and Crafts features, including Grueby and Batchelder tile, with a library painted freehand with Kachina designs by his wife's cousin, Lillian Wilhelm Smith, in 1923. Grey lived here until his death in 1939 and wrote nearly forty novels during that time. The parcel is the remnant of an original five-acre estate, the rest of which was sold and subdivided in 1967. The house is still a private residence and retains much original fabric.
Significance in brief: The estate was the home of Western author Zane Grey from 1920 until his death in 1939, and the nomination ties it to his literary career. During those years he wrote nearly forty novels and many magazine pieces there. The house is also presented as a prime example of Mediterranean Revival architecture with Arts and Crafts interiors.
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 02001187, listed October 24, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 396 E. Mariposa St., Altadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | October 24, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001187 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1920-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Hunt, Myron; Grey, Elmer |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Literature |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a private residence; the structure retains integrity with few modifications beyond electrical, plumbing and heating upgrades. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 34.19070, -118.14160 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 02001187.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8066102
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.