Dana Adobe
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Why it's listed
Dana Adobe, also called Casa de Dana, is a large adobe ranch house on the Nipomo Grant in San Luis Obispo County, California. Captain William G. Dana, a New England sea captain and grantee of the land, began building the 13-room house in the fall of 1839. It was among the largest buildings in the area, second in size only to Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. The adobe served as a stopping place for travellers and as a working ranch centre. Rooms at the rear housed a carpenter and blacksmith shop and a weavery and store, and candles and soap were made on site. Goods went to neighbouring ranchos and to the missions of La Purisima and Santa Ynez. Visitors included John C. Fremont, Edwin Bryant and Capt. Halleck, and mail riders exchanged pouches here. When nominated, the building was unoccupied, deteriorated and repeatedly vandalized, with no water source on the property to support a caretaker. The county historical society owned it and lacked funds for restoration.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the adobe was an important stopping place for travellers and a supplier of goods and services (carpentry, blacksmithing, candles, soap, weaving, a store) to nearby ranchos and missions. Notable guests included John C. Fremont and Capt. Halleck. Mail riders from northern and southern California also exchanged mail pouches there.
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 71000189, listed May 6, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S end of Oak Glen Ave., Nipomo |
|---|---|
| County | San Luis Obispo County |
| Listed | May 6, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000189 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Capt. William G. Dana |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Historic - Aboriginal, Agriculture, Transportation, Politics/Government, Architecture, Communications, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | At the time of nomination the building was uninhabited with no public access, in deteriorated condition, and needed repair and restoration; it had suffered vandalism. Preservation work was marked as in progress. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 35.02775, -120.52878 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 71000189.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5214666
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.