Dolliver House
Why it's listed
Built in 1888, this two-and-a-half-story redwood house on Madrone Avenue in Larkspur was a summer home for Thomas Dolliver, a San Francisco shoe merchant who arrived in California during the gold rush. Gustave Nagel, who later built the Larkspur Hotel and the original Corte Madera school, constructed it, and local accounts describe it as the first house in the newly platted township. The design is a restrained California version of the Stick-Eastlake style, with angular lines, patterned shingles, bullseye trim and a wide double veranda. Much original material survives, including square nails, rolled glass windows, brass hardware, redwood floors and a brick fireplace. The Dolliver family's later gifts of adjoining redwood groves to the town created the parks that still preserve the setting. The house reflects how prosperous San Franciscans built summer retreats in Marin County during the 1880s land boom.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a little-altered example of California modified Stick-Eastlake architecture and a typical summer home of prosperous San Franciscans. It is described as the first house built in the new township of Larkspur, tied to the 1880s real estate boom. It is also linked to Thomas Dolliver, to the builder Gustave Nagel, and to the family's donation of redwood groves as public parks.
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 78000703, listed May 22, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 58 Madrone Ave., Larkspur |
|---|---|
| County | Marin County |
| Listed | May 22, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000703 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Gustave Nagel |
| Architectural style | California modified Stick-Eastlake |
| Areas of significance | Conservation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered, on its original site; the form notes it was undergoing interior remodeling only, and the interior retains its original eight-room plan. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.93187, -122.53750 (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 78000703.
- 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.