Goethe House
Also known as: Goethe, C. M., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1924 at 3731 T Street in Sacramento's Elmhurst subdivision, this six-thousand-square-foot house is a Mediterranean Revival residence designed by Julia Morgan. It has stucco walls, a low-pitched red-tile hipped roof, an ell-shaped plan, wrought iron balconies and grilles, cast-cement panels, and a carved teakwood front door. Teak also appears in the stairway, doors and interior trim. Several porches and rooms open toward the gardens, and the entry hall gives direct access to the principal rooms. It was built for Charles M. Goethe, a real estate investor and civic leader, and his wife Mary Glide Goethe, whose family had ties to Morgan. Goethe helped plan the city's playgrounds and parks, and he supported the founding of Sacramento State College. After his death in 1966, the house passed to California State University, Sacramento. It is valued as a well-preserved Morgan residence and one of two documented Morgan works in Sacramento.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a sophisticated 1920s Mediterranean Revival design by master architect Julia Morgan and a well-preserved example of her residential work. It is one of only two buildings in Sacramento documented as hers. It is also tied to Charles M. Goethe, a Sacramento businessman, civic figure and philanthropist.
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 82002230, listed February 19, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3731 T St., Sacramento |
|---|---|
| County | Sacramento County |
| Listed | February 19, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002230 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Julia Morgan |
| Architectural style | Mediterranean Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in good condition; altered in 1975 (second story modified for office space) and 1979 (interior stairway added from garage to second story), which the form says do not detract from its architectural significance. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 38.55906, -121.46057 (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 82002230.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14682541
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.