Villa Montezuma
Also known as: Shepard, Jesse, House
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Why it's listed
Completed in 1887 at 1925 K Street in San Diego, Villa Montezuma was built as the home of Jesse Shepard, a pianist and singer who performed in Paris and St. Petersburg and later wrote as Francis Grierson. The two-story wood-frame house with a basement defies simple classification, combining Moorish or Turkish and Gothic details within the Queen Anne style. Its architects were Comstock and Trotsche, and John Mallon of San Francisco made the stained glass. Outside, patterned shingles, ornamental metalwork, cast metal gargoyles and a tower with a Saracenic dome stand out. Inside, polished redwood ceilings, paneling and doors, Lincrusta Walton wall coverings, stained glass windows and fireplaces with exotic hardwood mantles remain largely in their original condition. A dumbwaiter still works. The property was recognized for its architecture and for its associations with music, art, literature and philosophy through Shepard's career.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as an architecturally unusual blend of Moorish or Turkish and Gothic influences within the Queen Anne style. It also stresses its preserved interior of redwood, stained glass and Lincrusta Walton, and its link to Jesse Shepard, a world-traveling pianist, singer and writer. Areas of significance checked include architecture, art, literature, music and religion/philosophy.
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 71000183, listed May 6, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1925 K St., San Diego |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | May 6, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000183 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (construction completed 1887) |
| Architect / builder | Comstock and Trotsche (N. A. Comstock and Carl Trotsche); stained glass by John Mallon of San Francisco |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne with Moorish/Turkish and Gothic influences |
| Areas of significance | Art, Entertainment/Recreation, Literature, Architecture, Philosophy |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and largely unaltered on its original site; preservation work was in progress by the City of San Diego. It was occupied as a private residence at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 32.70831, -117.14643 (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 71000183.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q35757299
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.