Our Lady of the Wayside
Why it's listed
Our Lady of the Wayside is a small country church on Portola Road in Portola Valley, completed in 1912. Built of reinforced concrete finished to resemble adobe, it measures about 80 by 37 feet and has a low gable roof of ceramic tile, seven ornamental buttresses and leaded amber windows. Its design draws on the California missions, while the arched entry carries a Georgian-style broken pediment. The church was commissioned through The Family, an exclusive San Francisco men's club whose members, of all faiths, organized the financing and donated services, materials and furnishings. Local residents and parishioners also helped. James Miller won the commission on a roll of dice and gave the design to his twenty-year-old employee, Timothy L. Pflueger, whose first executed work it was. In 1921 Pflueger added oak cabinetwork, a confessional and a marble altar. The church reflects the summer life of wealthy San Franciscans on the Peninsula and remains in excellent condition among redwoods.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an outstanding country church whose architecture suits its rural setting. It was the first executed design of Timothy L. Pflueger, later one of California's great architects. It also reflects the turn-of-the-century custom of wealthy San Franciscans summering on the Peninsula, and the church was built through the united efforts of people of many faiths.
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 77000338, listed November 22, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 930 Portola Rd., Portola Valley |
|---|---|
| County | San Mateo County |
| Listed | November 22, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000338 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Timothy L. Pflueger & James Miller |
| Architectural style | Mission style with Georgian features |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion, Philosophy, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and occupied, with only three added exits and 1921 interior cabinetwork as changes. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 37.38390, -122.23376 (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 77000338.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7111051
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.