US Post Main Office-San Mateo
Also known as: San Mateo, Saint Matthew's Station
Why it's listed
Saint Matthew's Station is a post office at 210 South Ellsworth Street in downtown San Mateo, completed in 1935 and used as the city's main post office until 1964. Its Mission Revival design features a symmetrical front with projecting end wings, stucco walls, a Spanish clay tile roof, and carved, painted wood doors and transoms. Inside, the lobby keeps its red tile floor, tiled wainscot, original service windows, brass lock boxes and decorated ceiling beams. Three murals titled "Life in Early California" by Tom Laman, and a carved wood sculpture called "Indian Maidens" by Zygmund Sazevich, were produced under the Treasury Relief Art Project. The building was listed because it exemplifies the shift in 1930s federal design toward regional styles, because its art reflects New Deal trends in California, and because it represents Depression-era post office construction. Alterations have been minor, and the building remains in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a fine example of Mission Revival architecture that reflects the early Spanish-dominated history of the area and federal design trends of the 1930s. Its lobby murals and carved wood sculpture, produced under the Treasury Relief Art Project, represent New Deal art in California. The reviewer also cited its link to Depression-era post office building projects.
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 88000443, listed April 18, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 210 S. Ellsworth St., San Mateo |
|---|---|
| County | San Mateo County |
| Listed | April 18, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000443 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Treasury Department Supervising Engineer's Office, under Neal Melick |
| Architectural style | Mission Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in good condition; served as the main post office until 1964 and now operates as Saint Matthew's Station, with no significant interior or exterior modifications. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 37.56662, -122.32441 (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 88000443.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133522241
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.