Administration Building, Sherman Institute
Also known as: Sherman (Indian) Museum; Sherman Indian High School
Why it's listed
Built in 1901-02 and designed by Wilcox and Rose, this former administration building at 9010 Magnolia Avenue in Riverside is the only original structure left on the Sherman Institute campus. It was styled after railroad depots of the period rather than the mission architecture used for the other campus buildings. The square, stuccoed brick building has overhanging eaves and originally had a cement verandah; additions, a 1933 post office room and a 1960 remodel changed details but kept its old appearance. Nearby palms in Memorial Park date to the 1901 dedication. The school replaced the Perris Indian School and drew students from California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico. Named for James S. Sherman, later vice president under William H. Taft, the institution became important in American Indian education, and this building hosted policy work such as a five-year Navajo program. Since 1970 it has served as a school museum and records repository.
Significance in brief: It is the only original building remaining on the Sherman Institute campus, which grew from a state function into a school of national importance for Indian education. The building has associations with leaders such as James S. Sherman and was the center of policy projects like the five-year Navajo program. Its railroad-depot style also set it apart from the mission-style buildings on the campus.
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 80000831, listed January 9, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 9010 Magnolia Ave., Riverside |
|---|---|
| County | Riverside County |
| Listed | January 9, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000831 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1902 |
| Architect / builder | Wilcox and Rose |
| Architectural style | Style common to railroad depots at the turn of the century (not the mission style of other campus buildings) |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Administration offices moved out in 1970 and the building became a school museum sponsored by the Sherman Alumni Association; the form lists its condition as good and its present use as a museum. |
| Acreage | 3.7 |
| Coordinates | 33.92491, -117.43774 (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 80000831.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q66503498
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.