Smith, Williams, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1875 on First Street in Napa's Boggs Addition, this two-and-one-half-story frame house is a Second Empire residence topped by a flared mansard roof covered in octagonal cedar shingles. Arched dormer windows, pierced scrollwork brackets, dentil work and a columned front portico flanked by two five-sided bays give the exterior its ornate character. A second-floor addition and enclosed sunporch followed in 1880. Inside, the original floor plan survives, along with oak floors, marble fireplaces, a curved mahogany staircase and art-glass transoms. The setting retains an original cast-iron hitching post, palms planted in 1895, and two magnolias more than a century old. The property is significant for architecture. Napa saw only five Second Empire buildings between 1870 and 1889, so the style was rare locally, and this house is considered one of the best residential examples. Its architect and builder are unknown. The house remains a single-family home in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of Napa's best residential examples of the Second Empire style, which was rare locally. Only five Second Empire buildings were built in Napa between 1870 and 1889. It retains its mansard roof, ornate cornice and bracketwork, original interior plan and detailing, and a historic setting with its original hitching post and century-old trees.
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 95000786, listed June 30, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1929 First St., Napa |
|---|---|
| County | Napa County |
| Listed | June 30, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000786 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Circa 1875, 1880 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Second Empire (mansard) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and still in use as a single dwelling, with few alterations since construction. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.29734, -122.29504 (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 95000786.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133308592
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.