Lais, Charles, House
Also known as: Berglund House
Why it's listed
Built in 1896 on a prominent corner in Sacramento's Old City, this 2-1/2 story Queen Anne house sits on a raised basement, a form suited to the floodplain. Its redwood frame and drop siding carry period details such as slanted bays, patterned-shingle gables, sunbursts, scroll-work and original leaded windows. Two front porches with twin staircases give separate entrances to the second and third floors, reflecting its use as two flats for Charles Lais, a Southern Pacific Railroad employee, and his boarders. After Lais died around 1930 it became a boarding house, lost one stairway in 1947, and later deteriorated until a 1980 fire destroyed the rear and half the roof. A 1982 rehabilitation rebuilt those parts, restored the twin stairs from old photographs and kept the original leaded glass and front-room woodwork. A 1976 city survey rated its architecture of major importance, and the house is regarded as a strong local example of its era and type.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its architecture as a well-executed local example of Queen Anne styling and of the late 19th century residences typical of Sacramento's Old City. Its raised basement form was a local adaptation to the floodplain. It was rated of major architectural importance in a 1976 city survey, and its design integrity was kept through the 1982 rehabilitation after a 1980 fire.
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 85000358, listed February 28, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1301 H St., Sacramento |
|---|---|
| County | Sacramento County |
| Listed | February 28, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000358 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated in 1982 after a 1980 fire; condition listed as excellent and the property is occupied, with commercial and private residence uses checked. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 38.58154, -121.48793 (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 85000358.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q126193012
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.