Goodman, George E., Mansion
Why it's listed
Built in 1873 at 1120 Oak Street in Napa, this two-and-a-half-story wood-frame mansion shows the Second Empire style through its concave mansard roof, hooded dormers, bracketed cornice, rounded-top windows, bay windows and a classically detailed entrance portico. San Francisco architects McDougall and Marquis designed it for George E. Goodman, who arrived in Napa in 1855, opened a general store, helped organize the town's first bank, and served as county treasurer. The house cost $25,000, making it one of the most expensive built in Napa up to that time. It was listed because it is Napa's largest and most fully detailed Second Empire example and one of the few early houses to remain substantially unaltered. The interior was converted to apartments between 1926 and 1941 and the original grounds have been divided, but the exterior retains a high level of integrity and reflects the prosperity of Napa's Victorian-era elite.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is Napa's clearest and most completely detailed example of Second Empire architecture and one of the half-dozen most significant mid-Victorian residences in the city. It is also one of the few substantially unaltered houses of its period and an early example of the homes built by Napa's wealthiest residents.
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 93000261, listed April 15, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1120 Oak St., Napa |
|---|---|
| County | Napa County |
| Listed | April 15, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000261 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1873 |
| Architect / builder | McDougall and Marquis |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Second Empire |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to apartments between 1926 and 1941; the interior was heavily rearranged, while the exterior remains largely unaltered. Current use is listed as multiple dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Napa Abajo-Fuller Park Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.29366, -122.28341 (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 93000261.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85763112
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.