Yount, Eliza G., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1884 at 423 Seminary Street in Napa, this two-and-a-half story wood-frame house was commissioned by Eliza G. Yount, widow of a successful county pioneer. San Francisco architect John M. Curtis of Curtis and Bennett designed it, reportedly at a cost near $18,000, making it one of the most expensive houses in Napa at the time. Its asymmetrical front, contrasting hipped, gable, pyramidal and shed roofs, five brick chimneys and oversized scroll brackets use classical details in deliberately unclassical ways. A local newspaper called it "half Swiss and half Gothic." The nomination holds that it fits no single style, but illustrates the late Victorian turn toward originality and is the earliest essentially unaltered example of that trend in Napa. The main change is a sleeping porch added around 1905. The interior has been divided into apartments, and later apartment buildings occupy the rear of the original parcel, though the front setting remains largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of Napa's most architecturally significant late Victorian residences. It reflects the move away from classical precedent toward eccentric, original design, and is the earliest essentially unaltered example of that trend remaining in Napa. It also retains a high degree of integrity.
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 92001279, listed September 24, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 423 Seminary St., Napa |
|---|---|
| County | Napa County |
| Listed | September 24, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001279 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1884 |
| Architect / builder | Curtis, John M. |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in fair condition; the interior has been divided into apartments, and the house is in current single-dwelling and business use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.29133, -122.29212 (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 92001279.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q65067031
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.