National Exchange Hotel
Also known as: Bicknell's Block
Why it's listed
Three stories of brick run about 100 feet along Broad Street in Nevada City, making this the most imposing building in the town's business district. Dr. Bicknell, a dentist, had it built, and a Mr. Todd planned and supervised the work. A newspaper notice in April 1856 called it the finest brick structure in the mountains. When a July 1856 fire destroyed the nearby U.S. Hotel, the Bicknell buildings survived almost unharmed, and the hotel's owners leased the block and opened it as the National Exchange Hotel on August 20, 1856. The facade has a wood portico, brick pilasters, a modeled brick cornice and cast iron railings. Inside, the dining room and bar occupy space once used by a telegraph office and freight and passenger services. The building is one of the seven oldest in the business district and the only one of them still used for its original purpose. It has operated as a hotel since 1856, though an 1890s annex was demolished in 1968.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the seven oldest structures remaining in the city's business district and the only one of that group still used for its original purpose. It is also described as one of the longest continuously operating hotels in the state. It served as a telegraph office, stage stop and freight and passenger service important to mining, and as the hub of the town's commercial and social life.
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 73000416, listed October 25, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 211 Broad St., Nevada City |
|---|---|
| County | Nevada County |
| Listed | October 25, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000416 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (completed April 1856; hotel opened August 20, 1856) |
| Architect / builder | Built by Mr. Todd, who planned and supervised construction, for Dr. Bicknell |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture, Communications |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition and in use as a hotel and dining room, with shops and business offices on the street level. The 1890s annex was torn down in 1968. |
| Within district | Nevada City Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.26228, -121.01802 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 73000416.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6972510
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.