Princeton Hotel
Also known as: Princeton Inn
Why it's listed
Built in 1908 by Frank P. Brophy, promoter of the Princeton-by-the-Sea subdivision, this two-story hotel sits at the main intersection of the town on San Mateo County's coast. It opened as the Ocean Shore Railroad reached Princeton and was soon expanded with a dining room moved from nearby, a dance hall with a stage, and a long arched veranda. Later owners changed its look with decorative lathe trim, stucco and a new name, Princeton Inn, though the basic form and window arrangement remain. Restoration work in the late 1970s kept the dance hall windows, exposed redwood trusses and a fieldstone fireplace. Most of the resort buildings that appeared along the railroad route have been demolished, burned or remodeled beyond recognition, while this hotel survives. It was listed as a typical turn-of-the-century coastal hotel that also reflects the Prohibition-era history of the coast, when Princeton was known for rum running.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the hotel is the survivor among the resort hotels, dance halls and bath houses that appeared along the Ocean Shore Railroad route in 1907-1908, and that it is still recognizable as originally built. It is also presented as a representative turn-of-the-century coastal hotel that reflects the speculative, tourist-oriented growth of coastside towns, including the Prohibition-era rum-running period.
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 79000543, listed January 31, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Capistrano Rd. and Prospect Way, Princeton |
|---|---|
| County | San Mateo County |
| Listed | January 31, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000543 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Frank P. Brophy |
| Architectural style | Vernacular, likely a craftsman's interpretation; loosely related to the Mission Style |
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a restaurant; the form describes restoration and upgrading of the building, with condition marked excellent and altered. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 37.50498, -122.48676 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 79000543.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133522148
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.