Quarters 1, Yerba Buena Island, Naval Training Station
Also known as: Residence of the Commander,Naval Base,San Francisco; Nimitz H
Why it's listed
Quarters 1 is a two-story, 5,886-square-foot wood-frame house on Yerba Buena Island, built in 1899-1900 as the Commandant's residence for the first U.S. Naval Training Station on the Pacific Coast. Its Classical Revival design includes a hip-roofed central block, three dormers, flanking wings with solaria, and a three-bay porch with fluted Doric columns. Inside, the ground-floor rooms have Ionic columns and Classical mantels. A 1934 fire damaged the upper floor, which was rebuilt as before, and earlier changes occurred before 1940. A formal garden designed in 1938 by Lucille Woolpert lies on the northwest side. The house was listed for its place in the development of Pacific Coast military defenses and for its unusual style among naval housing. After the training station closed in 1916, it became the residence of the Commander of the Naval Base, and it is also called Nimitz House because Admiral Chester Nimitz died there in 1966.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A for its role in developing military installations defending the Pacific Coast, as the Commandant's residence at the first U.S. Naval Training Station on the Pacific Coast. Under Criterion C, it is an unusual Classical Revival naval residence, a style fashionable for Bay Area private homes but not typical of Navy base housing. Its link to Admiral Nimitz, who died there, was not judged sufficient for Criterion B.
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 91001380, listed September 10, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1 Whiting Way, Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco |
|---|---|
| County | San Francisco |
| Listed | September 10, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001380 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1899-1916 (amended by the Keeper from 1898-1916 as stated in the form) |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition; still the residence of the Commander of the Naval Base, San Francisco. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Senior Officers Quarters Historic District, Yerba Buena Island |
| Coordinates | 37.81245, -122.36373 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 91001380.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133504682
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.