Dollar, Robert, Estate
Also known as: Walker,James D.,Home; Dollar,Robert,Home; "Falkirk"
Why it's listed
Falkirk is a 17-room Victorian mansion at 1408 Mission Avenue in San Rafael, set on 11.1 acres with a winding drive, formal gardens and wooded hillside. Records indicate the three-story house was built in 1879, and a two-story rear wing was added in 1925. Its exterior is Queen Anne, with gables, dormers, oriel windows and imitation half-timbering. The interior follows Charles Locke Eastlake's design ideas, including a redwood-paneled vaulted living room ceiling, carved oak fireplaces, inlaid floors and large stained glass windows. The grounds include stone lion-dogs from China, a lily pond, rare trees and a circular lath house. Early owners included railroad founders James D. Walker and Sidney Smith. Robert Dollar, a shipping magnate, bought the estate in 1906 and named it Falkirk after his birthplace in Scotland. It is described as probably the best Eastlake-Queen Anne example left in the San Rafael area and as a surviving grand country estate.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it probably the finest Eastlake-Queen Anne building remaining in the San Rafael area, with an interior closely following Charles Locke Eastlake's ideas. Its landscaped grounds and hillside are also cited. It is linked to railroad founders James D. Walker and Sidney Smith and to shipping magnate Robert Dollar, who bought it in 1906.
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 72000237, listed December 11, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1408 Mission Ave., San Rafael |
|---|---|
| County | Marin County |
| Listed | December 11, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000237 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1879, 1906 to present |
| Architectural style | Eastlake and Queen Anne (late Victorian) |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Commerce, Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent to good condition, altered, on its original site, and in use as a private residence. The outbuildings are described as in disrepair. |
| Acreage | 11.1 |
| Coordinates | 37.97713, -122.53150 (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 72000237.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.