Cowell Lime Works Historic District
Also known as: Davis and Jordan Lime Company; Davis and Cowell Lime Company; Henry Cowell Company; Henry Cowell Lime & Cement Company
Why it's listed
Just inside the main entrance of the University of California, Santa Cruz, a cluster of stone kilns and weathered wooden buildings marks the former Cowell Lime Works. Lime production began here in 1853 and the site grew into a full industrial and ranch complex by 1861, centered on Jordan Gulch. Limestone and redwood fuel came from the hills above, and the lime was burned in kilns, packed into barrels made in the cooperage and shipped to market. The district covers about 30 acres and includes the kilns, cooperage, tramway trestle, cookhouse, horse barn, granary, paymaster's house, worker cabins and a ranch house built in 1864. Construction of Coolidge Drive in the 1960s removed part of the cooperage and changed the setting, though the road follows the old lime road. Several buildings now serve university uses such as admissions, a theater and a daycare. The period of significance runs from 1853 to 1920.
Significance in brief: The district preserves a concentrated set of buildings and structures that show how limestone was quarried, burned into lime and barreled for market at the Cowell Lime Works. The kilns, cooperage and trestle convey the industrial process, while the ranch house and cabins show the supporting residential and ranch life. The form states a period of significance of 1853 to 1920 and recommends local significance.
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 07001220, listed November 21, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | University of California, Santa Cruz campus; High St. and Glen Coolidge Dr., Santa Cruz |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Cruz County |
| Listed | November 21, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07001220 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1853-1920 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Italianate; Timber Frame Construction; Vernacular; Limekilns: pot and continuous |
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Many buildings are altered or deteriorated, but several are reused by the university (admissions office, theater, daycare, storage, Women's Center). Current functions include education and some vacant, not-in-use resources. |
| Acreage | 32 |
| Coordinates | 36.97995, -122.05412 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 07001220.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5179650
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.