Rankin Building
Also known as: Standard Concrete Products
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Why it's listed
Rising three stories at the corner of Fourth and Sycamore in downtown Santa Ana, this sand-colored brick commercial building was completed in 1917 for merchant John H. Rankin's dry goods business. It was built by Henry T. Rutherford under lease to Rankin. It was the first modern department store in Orange County, gathering millinery, china, jewelry and women's clothing under one roof, and it was the largest single retail establishment in the county until the World War II era. Its gray pressed-metal Corinthian cornice, brick pilasters, modified Chicago style upper windows and ceramic brick ground floor distinguished it from the two-story Beaux-Arts influenced buildings nearby. The Rankin family were pioneer merchants and civic leaders. Storefronts and interiors changed in 1950, 1965 and 1981, but the upper facade remains as originally built. These ties to local commerce and architecture are the grounds on which the building was recognized as significant in a local context.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues local significance for the building's role in Orange County's commercial history, as the county's first modern department store and its largest single retail establishment of its time. It is also tied to pioneer merchant John H. Rankin and his family, who were civic and business leaders. Its modified Chicago commercial style set it apart from the surrounding Beaux-Arts influenced two-story commercial buildings.
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 83001220, listed February 24, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 117 W. 4th St., Santa Ana |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | February 24, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001220 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1917 |
| Architect / builder | George Preble/Elwing & Tedford |
| Architectural style | Modified Chicago commercial style |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in commercial use; interior remodeled in 1981 and storefronts rehabilitated, with condition described as excellent. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Downtown Santa Ana Historic Districts (North, Government/Institutional and South, Retail) |
| Coordinates | 33.74820, -117.86849 (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 83001220.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q65067452
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.