Dickerman Barn
Also known as: Dickerman-Steele Barn
Why it's listed
Near Año Nuevo Point south of Pescadero, a large redwood barn sits on a hilltop with views toward the Pacific Ocean. Built about 1878-1880 for the Dickerman ranch, it measures 40 by 91 feet and rises roughly three stories under a gable roof, a form more common in the eastern United States than in California. Its 18-inch redwood uprights are joined with mortise and tenon connections and long wooden pegs. Many timbers were salvaged from the Waddell Wharf in nearby Año Nuevo Cove. The barn is the last dairy barn surviving from the Steele Brothers Dairy Ranches, a state landmark covering about 7,000 acres. It illustrates the pioneer craftsmanship and the coastal dairy industry, which depended on shipping by sea. After decades without maintenance, the state stabilized it by 1981 with a new roof, new south wall siding and rebuilt ramps. The remaining three walls were kept intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the last surviving dairy barn on State Landmark No. 906, the Steele Brothers Dairy Ranches. It is a rare example of peg (mortise and tenon) construction and an eastern-style tall barn, unlike most California barns. It also reflects the pioneer artisans and the coastal dairy industry, and its large redwood timbers were salvaged from the Waddell Wharf.
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 82002259, listed January 11, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Cabrillo Hwy., Pescadero |
|---|---|
| County | San Mateo County |
| Listed | January 11, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002259 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1878-1880 (specific dates; checked century 1800-1899) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the State of California Parks and Recreation. It was deteriorated before stabilization. A November 1981 field check confirmed the roof was reshingled, the south wall resurfaced, and the west shed addition removed. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 37.11917, -122.30680 (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 82002259.
- 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.