Napa County Courthouse Plaza
Also known as: Napa County Courthouse/Hall of Records
Why it's listed
Courthouse Plaza occupies a landscaped block in downtown Napa and has served as the seat of county government for well over a century. Its two historic buildings are the 1878 Courthouse, a two-story brick and stucco High Victorian Italianate design by Samuel and Joseph Newsom with local architect Ira Gilchrist, and the 1916 Hall of Records, a two-story reinforced concrete building by William H. Corlett with a clay tile roof. A three-story addition from 1978 replaced the old jail between them. The Courthouse lost its tower in 1931 and was partly restored in 1978, including its second-floor glass dome. The plaza was recognized for housing the county courts and administrative offices from 1878 to 1942, and for its architecture. The Courthouse is the only known courthouse the Newsoms designed in California. The Hall of Records is an early example of poured-in-place concrete detailing, with Mission-style tile reflecting early California design.
Significance in brief: The complex is significant for its long association with Napa County government and its courts and offices from 1878 to 1942. The 1878 Courthouse is a well executed High Victorian Italianate building by the Newsom brothers, and the only known Newsom-designed courthouse in California. The 1916 Hall of Records is an early example of reinforced concrete with poured-in-place detailing.
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 92000778, listed June 18, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bounded by Coombs, Second, Brown and Third Sts., Napa |
|---|---|
| County | Napa County |
| Listed | June 18, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000778 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1878-1942 |
| Architect / builder | Newsom, Samuel & Joseph; Gilchrist, Ira; Corlett, William H. |
| Architectural style | Courthouse: Italianate, High Victorian Italianate; Hall of Records: Renaissance, Second Renaissance Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The Hall of Records was used for county records until 1989, then for storage, and was vacated in late 1990. The form lists current use as courthouse and vacant/not in use. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 38.29742, -122.28566 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 92000778.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18154867
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.