Scripps Hall
Also known as: Pasadena Waldorf School
Why it's listed
Scripps Hall is a 2 1/2-story Craftsman residence on a 5.28-acre parcel in the Altadena foothills. Designed by Pasadena architect Charles W. Buchanan, it was built around 1904 for William Armiger Scripps and is what remains of an estate of about 20 acres. The wood-framed house is clad in plaster over a brick-faced base, with a hipped roof, exposed rafters, a brick front porch, and a central-hall plan with extensive oak, cedar and redwood woodwork. Grounds features include a gate, driveway, stone retaining walls, citrus trees, a caretaker's house, and a storage shed. The Scripps and Kellogg families held the property until 1977, and family occupancy ended in 1983. After community concern that the house might be demolished, it was sold in 1986 to the Pasadena Waldorf School, which still uses it. The house is considered significant for its Craftsman design, its association with early Altadena settlement, and its remarkable integrity despite some alterations and added temporary classrooms.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the property under Criteria A and C, in the areas of settlement and social history, for the period 1904-1945. It remains a well-preserved example of a large Craftsman residence by a noted Pasadena architect and reflects early twentieth-century estate life in Altadena. The house stayed with the Scripps and Kellogg families for 79 years and retains high integrity.
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 99000893, listed July 28, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 209 E. Mariposa St., Altadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | July 28, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000893 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Buchanan, Charles W.; Stanley, C. N. |
| Architectural style | Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a private school since 1986; described as in good condition with high integrity, though showing signs of more intensive recent use. |
| Acreage | 5.3 |
| Coordinates | 34.19272, -118.14467 (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 99000893.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7439192
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.