Lathrop House
Why it's listed
Built in 1863 for Benjamin Lathrop, this wood-frame house in Redwood City is a California example of Gothic Revival design in simplified form. Gothic motifs carved in wood were applied to a basic Colonial frame house, combined with a symmetrical facade, horizontal siding, front porches, a central door and tall gables with arches pierced by quatrefoil designs. The house originally stood on Broadway. It was sold with its site to the school district in 1894, moved to the rear when a new school was built, and relocated again in 1905 by a new owner to its present site on Hamilton Street. Restoration has returned the exterior close to its original look, using early photographs as a guide. Later additions were removed, missing finials, railings and pendants were reproduced, and redwood shingles were cut to match the original roof pattern. Interior work is still pending. The house is considered unique in San Mateo County for its style.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is architecturally important as an outstanding example of simplified Gothic Revival style as built in California in the 1860s. Its tall gables and arches pierced by quatrefoil designs are described as a prime example of the type and unique in San Mateo County.
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). NRHP reference 73000448, listed April 11, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 701 Hamilton Street, Redwood City |
|---|---|
| County | San Mateo County |
| Listed | April 11, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000448 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior restored to near original condition; interior needs extensive renovation, with restoration planned when funds are available. Owned by the County of San Mateo. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 37.48771, -122.22976 (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 73000448.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives)
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q28042366
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.