Buford House
Why it's listed
Built in 1877 at 1930 Clay Street in Napa, this two-story house reflects the Romano-Tuscan variation of the Italianate style, a form uncommon in a city otherwise rich in Victorian architecture. It has a redwood frame, tongue-and-groove siding, a stone foundation, a shingle roof and a cornice with pierced brackets and a molded gutter. Windows carry bracketed lintels, with alternating arched and triangular pediments upstairs. A two-story western addition of unknown date matches the original materials. Simon H. Buford, a Missouri-born rancher who came to California in 1849, built the house and split his time between it and his ranch in Berryessa Valley. He sold it in 1906 to J. M. Butler. Napa County bought it in 1912 for a youth detention home, and from 1956 it served as a University of California agriculture extension office. Condemned in 1971, it was sold in 1976 on condition that it be rehabilitated, and it now holds four apartments within its original floor plan.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is probably the best Napa example of the Romano-Tuscan variation of the Italianate style, with its cubic form, simplified lines and crowning cornice. It is also tied to Simon H. Buford, a wealthy Napa rancher, and to later use as a county youth detention home and agricultural extension office.
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 77000314, listed November 11, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1930 Clay St., Napa |
|---|---|
| County | Napa County |
| Listed | November 11, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000314 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Simon H. Buford) |
| Architectural style | Romano-Tuscan variation of the Italianate Style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condemned and vacated in 1971; sold in 1976 on condition of rehabilitation; since restored and converted to four apartments. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 38.29846, -122.29502 (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 77000314.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q65066824
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.