Mariposa County High School Auditorium
Why it's listed
Completed in 1937, this two-story auditorium serves the Mariposa County High School at 5074 Old Highway North. Stucco walls, a Spanish tile roof, decorative tilework over doors and windows, and urn-flanked entrances mark it as Spanish Colonial Revival work. Two wings project from the ends of the symmetrical building and frame a patio. Architect William Weeks, described as perhaps the state's pre-eminent school designer, drew up the plans, and William Spivok of San Francisco was the contractor. Construction ran from January 1936 to April 1937, funded by a $66,236 federal WPA grant and an $85,000 county bond issue. On completion it was among the largest and probably most costly buildings in town. Windows were replaced in recent decades, and interior changes suit school use, but the exterior keeps its character. It is listed for architecture as Mariposa's finest example of its style and its only historic school building with integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is Mariposa's best example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and one of very few architect-designed buildings in the town. It reflects the craftsmanship of its Works Progress Administration workforce and the work of Weeks, a leading designer of California school buildings. It is also the town's only historic school building that retains 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 91000547, listed May 2, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5074 Old Highway N., Mariposa |
|---|---|
| County | Mariposa County |
| Listed | May 2, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000547 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1936-37 |
| Architect / builder | Weeks, William H. |
| Architectural style | Spanish Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a school; the exterior retains integrity apart from replaced windows and interior changes. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 37.48910, -119.96418 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 91000547.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q30645898
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.