Nevada Theatre
Also known as: The Cedar Theatre
Why it's listed
Built between 1864 and July 1865 at Broad and Bridge Streets in Nevada City, this brick theatre opened in September 1865 with the Worrell Sisters, under San Francisco manager Tom Maguire. The original auditorium held 750 people and had a flat floor, a single balcony and a stage with a basement for dressing rooms. In 1938 the building was converted for movies: the facade was stuccoed and given a marquee and neon sign, the stage was removed, and the floor was lowered and raked. The sign and marquee were removed in 1968 and 1970, and stucco removal began in 1972 as restoration proceeded. Theatre historians call it the earliest original theatre still standing in California, and its facade is cited as an example of Mother Lode architecture. It has hosted opera, repertory theatre, concerts, lectures and film showings, and county officials value it as a restoration project with economic potential.
Significance in brief: Theatre historians regard it as the earliest original theatre still standing in California, judged by its original purpose and use. Its original facade is cited as an example of 'Mother Lode' or 'Gold Country' architecture, possibly Victorian in style. Locally it is considered the county's most significant restoration project for its economic potential.
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 73000417, listed March 14, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Broad and Bridge Sts., Nevada City |
|---|---|
| County | Nevada County |
| Listed | March 14, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000417 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (construction began 1864; completed July 1865) |
| Architectural style | "Mother Lode" or "Gold Country" style, possibly Victorian; 1938 facade alterations in "moderne" style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered; in use as a community playhouse and multipurpose auditorium while restoration work was in progress. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Nevada City Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.26286, -121.02021 (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 73000417.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q573887
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.