Wright, George L., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1913 beside French Park in Santa Ana, this two-story wood frame house was designed as a triplex, with a spacious owner's unit on the ground floor and two units upstairs. Its Western Stick, or Craftsman, styling shows in exposed structural timbers, lookout beams, exposed rafter tails, deep barge rafters, a full-width veranda and two upper sleeping porches. Inside, stained wood trim, wainscoting, built-in bookcases, sideboards and a Murphy bed in the den reflect the style. The house was built for George L. Wright, who arrived in Santa Ana before the 1885-89 real estate boom, worked first as a carpenter, then built the area's largest moving and storage company. He served on the city council from 1902 to 1906, when a new City Hall was built and streets were paved. The house replaced an 1890s cottage on the same site. It is regarded as the most imposing Craftsman residence in the city, and its exterior remains almost entirely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the largest and most impressive remaining Craftsman-style building in the Santa Ana area, with its principal elevations and major rooms unaltered. It is also tied to George L. Wright, a local citizen who built a large moving and storage business and served on the city council from 1902 to 1906. Its scale and design reflect his growing social and economic success.
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 82000978, listed November 12, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 831 N. Minter St., Santa Ana |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | November 12, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82000978 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architectural style | Western Stick, or Craftsman |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition with minimal exterior alterations; undergoing rehabilitation and conversion into three condominium units at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Within district | French Park Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.75274, -117.86379 (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 82000978.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133337319
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.