Barron-Latham-Hopkins Gate Lodge
Also known as: Gate House
Why it's listed
This redwood-frame gate lodge at 555 Ravenswood Avenue in Menlo Park began in 1864 as the gatekeeper's cottage for William Eustace Barron's country estate. Topped by a steep shingled Mansard roof and trimmed with heavy Second Empire window moldings, it grew in three stages: the original octagonal-plan cottage, a mid-section added in 1897 by Timothy Hopkins for tenants including an Episcopal vicar, and a 1906 addition after the earthquake that raised the building onto a concrete foundation and added a second floor. Later owners included Milton Latham, who renamed the estate Thurlow Lodge, and the Hopkins family, who used the lodge as a summer home until 1941. The estate's other buildings were demolished in 1942, leaving the lodge and its gate. The Army, Stanford University and finally the City of Menlo Park, in 1968, held it afterward. The nomination presents it as the last 1860s gate lodge of its kind in California and notes the 1864 gate and French bronze statuary as associated features within the boundary.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the last remnant of the large, fashionable country estates of the 1860s in California, and that gate lodges of this date no longer exist elsewhere in the state. It is also significant for its association with three private owners (Barron, Latham and Timothy Hopkins), each of whom contributed to California history. It is a Second Empire building with a Mansard roof.
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 86001951, listed August 28, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 555 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park |
|---|---|
| County | San Mateo County |
| Listed | August 28, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001951 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific dates 1864, 1897 and 1906) |
| Architect / builder | Builder/architect unknown on the form; the text names William Eustace Barron as builder and first owner. |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and occupied; owned by the City of Menlo Park and used as a museum and park. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 37.45483, -122.17933 (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.
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 86001951.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.