American River Grange Hall No. 172
Why it's listed
Built in 1882 on land donated by Grange member James Cornell, this two-story, T-shaped wooden hall on Kilgore Road in the Rancho Cordova area has served as a Grange meeting place ever since. Members supplied donated materials and their own labor, with Rodman and carpenter Carl Harvelson named as builders. The building has white lapped siding, a cast concrete block foundation, two-over-two double-hung windows, and an intersecting gabled roof. Downstairs are a kitchen and dining area; upstairs is a large hall with wood wainscot. The American River Grange incorporated in 1873 and met in the Fifteen Mile House before building its own hall. The hall hosted debates, dances, parties and community events, and the Grange let the nearby Kinney School use its horse sheds. It is the oldest continuously used Grange hall in Sacramento County, and it records the Grange's influence on a farming community between 1882 and 1946, even though commercial development has changed its surroundings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A for its association with the Grange (Order of Patrons of Husbandry) and its role as a meeting hall that bound together a sparsely settled agricultural community. It is described as the oldest continuously used Grange hall in Sacramento County. Integrity of the exterior and the large open interior rooms is rated very good.
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 96001079, listed October 10, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2720 Kilgora Rd., Rancho Cordova |
|---|---|
| County | Sacramento County |
| Listed | October 10, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001079 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1882-1946 |
| Architect / builder | Rodman (Grange member); Harvelson, Carl (carpenter and Grange member) |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a Grange hall and meeting place; described as in good condition with few alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 38.60079, -121.27543 (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 96001079.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4744842
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.