Morse, LeGrand, House
Why it's listed
This modest single-story house at 365 Main Street in Point Arena is built on an irregular U-plan, with a gable roof over each segment and a shed-roofed portico sheltering the front door in the crook of the U. It is clad in horizontal wood siding, has two-over-two double-hung windows, and is enclosed by a picket fence. The house is associated with LeGrand Morse, whose father, Dr. J. G. Morse, arrived in Point Arena in 1858, followed by his son a year later. LeGrand Morse rose from teacher and store clerk to drug and merchandise seller, lawyer and state legislator, and lived here during the most productive years of his life. He died in 1907 as one of the town's last original settlers. Its construction materials date from the 1870s, though the plan looks pieced together after construction. The house shows that prominent townspeople did not need grand homes.
Significance in brief: The house is linked with LeGrand Morse, a member of one of Point Arena's founding families and an early leading citizen. It is the only building directly tied to him. It is also an unusual example of 1870s residential building, showing that leading citizens did not require pretentious dwellings.
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 90001362, listed September 13, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 365 Main St., Point Arena |
|---|---|
| County | Mendocino County |
| Listed | September 13, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001362 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1870-1907 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a private single dwelling, still in domestic use as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.91384, -123.69225 (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 90001362.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85776046
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.