Burnham-Marston House
Also known as: Frederick R. Burnham Residence
Why it's listed
Completed in 1907, this two-story brick and half-timber house at 3563 Seventh Avenue in San Diego was built for Dr. Frederick R. Burnham and his wife Lilla Marston Burnham. Architects Will Sterling Hebbard and Irving John Gill designed it as the last residential project of their partnership, blending English country house form with Prairie and Craftsman touches. John Kaar was the builder. The irregular house sits under hip roofs on a densely planted 3.5-acre site beside Balboa Park and shares gardens with two related Marston family houses, from 1904 and 1909. Some original windows were replaced with larger panes, and an upper porch was enclosed, yet the design remains largely intact. Interior wood paneling, fireplaces and floors survive beneath later carpeting and office alterations. Its importance rests on its architecture and on its link to the Burnham and Marston families, who made substantial contributions to San Diego civic life.
Significance in brief: It is an excellent, largely intact example of the residential work of architects Will Sterling Hebbard and Irving John Gill, combining English country house form with Prairie and Craftsman elements. It was the last residential project of their partnership. It is also associated with the Burnham and Marston families, prominent in San Diego civic life, and shares gardens with the George White Marston House and Arthur Marston House.
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 86002665, listed September 22, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3563 Seventh Ave., San Diego |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | September 22, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002665 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Architects: Will Sterling Hebbard and Irving John Gill; Builder: John Kaar |
| Architectural style | Prairie style with English country house form and Craftsman elements |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and occupied; converted to professional offices in 1970, with interior changes described as cosmetic and removable. A detached garage and caretaker apartment stand to the north. |
| Acreage | 3.5 |
| Coordinates | 32.74272, -117.15734 (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 86002665.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q5754107
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.