Angel, Myron, House
Why it's listed
This two-story wood frame house at 714 Buchon Street in San Luis Obispo was built around 1880. It is roughly cruciform in plan, with an intersecting gable roof and jerkinhead gable ends. The exterior is horizontal redwood shiplap siding, and Eastlake touches include quarter sunbursts, window surrounds and vertical boarding in the gables. Inside, the three largest rooms on each floor form a tee, and most floors are Douglas fir. The house matters chiefly for Myron Angel, who lived there from 1889 until his death in 1911. Born in New York in 1827, Angel came to California in 1849, worked in mining and ranching, and became a newspaper editor and historian who wrote histories of Nevada, Placer County and San Luis Obispo County. He also lobbied the legislature for a school teaching practical skills, and the state's first polytechnic institute was placed in San Luis Obispo largely through his efforts.
Significance in brief: The house is significant mainly for its association with Myron Angel, a journalist, historian and educational advocate known as the "Father of California Polytechnic State University." Angel lived there from 1889 until his death in 1911. It is also considered a well-preserved example of late-nineteenth century vernacular residential architecture.
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 82000988, listed November 22, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 714 Buchon St., San Luis Obispo |
|---|---|
| County | San Luis Obispo County |
| Listed | November 22, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82000988 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular residential with some Eastlake details |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Other, Literature, Education, Communications |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition listed as good, with some alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 35.27587, -120.66182 (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 82000988.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14683454
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.