San Bernardino County Court House
Why it's listed
San Bernardino County's courthouse is a four-story, reinforced concrete building set in park-like grounds in the city's downtown. Dedicated in April 1927 and designed by local architect Howard E. Jones, it combines county administration, courtrooms and a fourth-floor jail. Its long, horizontal facade has projecting blocks with two-story Corinthian-style columns, rusticated cast stone at the ground floor and smooth stucco above. The exterior finishes have remained unpainted, which the nomination describes as uncommon for a large concrete building in Southern California. Inside, marble wainscoting, coffered plaster ceilings with hand-painted designs, a stained glass stair panel and three original third-floor courtrooms survive. The property also includes a 1937 welfare building, a 1940 library and a 1940 heating plant, along with fountains, plaques and remnants of the earlier 1893 courthouse. It is considered significant as the city's only surviving Neo-Classical building and for its link to the county's growth.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as the only extant Neo-Classical building in San Bernardino and a well-preserved example of City Beautiful-era civic design. It notes the unpainted cast stone and stucco finishes, the intact interior details and three original courtrooms, and its role housing county government during rapid county growth. The 1930s-1940s buildings and landscaping on the site also contribute.
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 97001632, listed January 12, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 351 N. Arrowhead Ave., San Bernardino |
|---|---|
| County | San Bernardino County |
| Listed | January 12, 1998 |
| Reference number | 97001632 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Howard E. Jones, architect; Dewitt Mitcham, associate; R. Westcott Company (R.W. Wescott of Alhambra), builder |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals/Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a courthouse with courtrooms, jail and sheriff offices; the former welfare and library buildings are in use by county offices. |
| Acreage | 7 |
| Coordinates | 34.10554, -117.29144 (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 97001632.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14683858
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.