Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Co. General Office Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1917-18 of stone block on the main street of Alturas, this building served as the general office of the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway. The company moved its headquarters and shops to Alturas after selling part of its line to the Western Pacific in 1917, and local citizens had offered $10,000 and 20 acres to attract it. Stone for the building came from the Sisson quarry west of town, and the cost was estimated at about $40,000. Architecturally, it combines a curved gable and arched entrance from the Mission Revival with Churrigueresque ornamentation at the side entrance, which reflects the later Spanish Colonial Revival. The tile roof and bell tower echo both styles; all but one of the bells are wooden dummies turned on the company lathe. The exterior remains largely unaltered, apart from a lodge sign and a bulletin board. The building now serves as an Elks Lodge. The Southern Pacific bought the railway in 1926.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building represents a notable transition between the Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival styles in early 20th century California. It is also tied to the railroad's role in the development of Alturas and Modoc County, since the company moved its headquarters there in 1918.
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 74000529, listed September 6, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 619 N. Main St., Alturas |
|---|---|
| County | Modoc County |
| Listed | September 6, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000529 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 20th Century; construction 1917-18 |
| Architectural style | Mission Revival with Spanish Colonial Revival elements |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and used as an Elks Lodge; described as maintained in good condition, with an essentially unaltered exterior and some interior modifications. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.48982, -120.54303 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 74000529.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14683470
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.