Norris, Frank, Cabin
Also known as: Redwood Retreat
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Why it's listed
Deep in the redwoods above Gilroy, California, a two-room, one-story log cabin with a stone-buttressed porch is associated with novelist Frank Norris. The form describes it as the "alleged" Norris cabin and reports it unchanged and intact. Near it stands a circular seat of native stone, put up by friends of the writer as a memorial. Reaching the site takes about a mile on a rough private canyon road, then another mile on an unmarked trail up a steep slope. Norris (1870-1902) was a journalist and novelist who studied art in Paris, attended the University of California and Harvard, and became a leading American naturalist writer. His novels McTeague (1899) and The Octopus (1901) are regarded as major works of American literature. In 1902 he bought a ranch near Gilroy, planning to settle there, but died that year. The cabin was recognized for this literary connection.
Significance in brief: The cabin is tied to Frank Norris (1870-1902), described as one of the most stimulating and militant early American naturalist writers. His novels McTeague (1899) and The Octopus (1901) are called distinguished landmarks of American literature. Norris bought a ranch near Gilroy in 1902, intending to make it his home, shortly before his death.
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 66000235, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 10 mi. W of Gilroy off CA 152, Gilroy |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Clara County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000235 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Literature |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 29, 1962 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as unchanged and intact, occasionally used as a private summer residence, and difficult to reach by a two-mile hike. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 37.05297, -121.72721 (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 66000235.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5488704
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.