National Historical RegisterIndependent guide · not a government site

Hayes Mansion

San Jose, Santa Clara County, California Listed Ref. 75000481 Building
Hayes Mansion, San Jose, California
Photo: Don DeBold from San Jose, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).

Why it's listed

Hayes Mansion is a 62-room house at 200 Edenvale Avenue in San Jose, built in 1904 to a design by George W. Page. It is laid out in the form of a Maltese Cross, with an 18-foot-wide solarium connecting the wings and a loggia joining east and west. Walls are two feet thick, of brick, steel lathing and stucco on a concrete and steel foundation. Italian Renaissance ornament frames the windows and doors. The house once sat on a self-sustaining 240-acre estate with orchards, vineyards, a power plant and a chapel, landscaped by M. Ulrich. Its significance rests on the Hayes family. Everis A. Hayes served in Congress from 1904, worked on the Federal Reserve Act and the Farm Loan Act. Jay Orley Hayes helped organize the regional fruit industry. The brothers also owned San Jose's major newspapers, and Mrs. Hayes-Chynoweth founded the True Life Church on the grounds. Fire, water damage and vandalism affected the interior, but the structure remains sound.

Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mansion is associated with the Hayes family, who were significant in local, state and national history. Everis A. Hayes served seven terms in Congress and helped draft the Farm Loan Act. His brother Jay Orley Hayes helped organize the fruit industry, and the brothers owned San Jose's major newspapers. Mrs. Hayes-Chynoweth founded the True Life Church on the estate.

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 75000481, listed August 1, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).

Key facts

Address200 Edenvale Ave., San Jose
CountySanta Clara County
ListedAugust 1, 1975
Reference number75000481
Resource typeBuilding
Period of significance1900-
Architect / builderGeorge W. Page (architect); M. Ulrich (landscape design)
Architectural styleMediterranean Villa style with Italian Renaissance ornamentation; also described as Spanish Colonial Revival
Areas of significancePolitics/Government, Architecture
Level of significanceLocal
Status (as stated in the nomination)Condition listed as good; the form states the mansion remains in excellent structural condition despite fire, water damage and vandalism. The form checks both unoccupied and private residence use.
Acreage6.2
Coordinates37.26252, -121.82077 (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

Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.