Weller House
Why it's listed
Built in 1886 by Horace Weller as a one-and-a-half-story Victorian, this house at 524 Stewart Street in Fort Bragg grew to about 10,000 square feet when a second and third floor were added in 1897. Weller managed offices for local lumber firms and obtained select old-growth redwood for the work. Clear heartwood boards, specially milled moldings and paneling, and Douglas fir flooring give the interior a finish the nomination calls impossible to duplicate. The third floor holds a 40-foot-square ballroom with 15-foot ceilings of polished redwood, added in 1897 as a place of worship for the local Baptist congregation. A brick-lined well, pump house and carriage stop survive on the grounds. Weller also helped found Fort Bragg's first bank in 1891. Described as the oldest house in town, it is open to visitors as a private museum whose interior reflects use as a residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as the oldest house in Fort Bragg, built with exceptionally fine old-growth redwood paneling that cannot be duplicated. It is tied to Horace Weller Sr., a local lumber company manager, churchman and co-founder of the town's first bank. It is also the only dwelling on the Mendocino Coast open to the public as a private museum.
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 76000499, listed July 19, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 524 Stewart St., Fort Bragg |
|---|---|
| County | Mendocino County |
| Listed | July 19, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000499 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built for Horace Weller) |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in good condition; used as a private residence and museum open to the public. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.44751, -123.80418 (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 76000499.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14684250
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.