Leggett House
Also known as: Queen Anne Inn
Why it's listed
Built in 1884 at 352 West 22nd Street in Merced, this two-story Queen Anne house has an all-redwood balloon frame, with ship-lap siding on the first floor and fish scale shingles above. Its most striking feature is an eight-sided scalloped shingle turret, called a Witch's Cap, with bay windows beneath, which makes the house a visual landmark in the city. Inside, original details survive, including horsehair plaster walls, stained glass windows, French brass chandeliers and a mantel ordered from France. Rancher E. M. Herron built the house on a knoll above the flood waters of Bear Creek. It later passed to T. H. Leggett, an early settler and one of Merced's first postmasters, whose jewelry store occupied the front parlor in 1894. The house served as a rooming house, then a duplex, before restoration as a private residence in 1975. It is one of seven surviving pre-1900 private homes in Merced and has seen only minor alterations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a fine example of Queen Anne architecture, shown by its varied siding, irregular form, varied roofline, bay windows and especially the turret. It reflects Merced's change from a struggling pioneer community to a prosperous county seat. It is one of seven surviving private homes built before 1900 in Merced and has had only minor alterations.
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 79000501, listed October 25, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 352 W. 22nd St, Merced |
|---|---|
| County | Merced County |
| Listed | October 25, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000501 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | E. M. Herron |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored as a private residence in 1975; listed as occupied and in use as a private residence, in excellent condition with some alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 37.30524, -120.47882 (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 79000501.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6518034
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.