Scott, Hiram D., House
Also known as: Scott House
Why it's listed
Built in 1853 by pioneer Hiram D. Scott, this Greek Revival country house on Scotts Valley Drive is the oldest of only three nineteenth-century homes left in Scotts Valley. Scott, a Maine-born sailor, went on to run a ferry and a hotel in the gold country before buying Rancho San Agustin in 1850 and settling his family there. The house was framed in locally milled redwood. It originally had four rooms, an attic and a dining room wing, with a central fireplace, a side stairway, corner pilasters and an open pediment. It was moved uphill in 1936, and asbestos shingles added in the 1930s were removed in 1976, exposing the original clapboard. Later kitchen and bathroom additions were slated for removal during restoration. The house recalls the ranching and farming that once sustained the valley, including potato, barley and wheat crops and large herds of horses and cattle. It is one of the few surviving 1850s Greek Revival homes in Santa Cruz County.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to Hiram D. Scott, one of Scotts Valley's earliest and most renowned pioneers, and it is the oldest of only three surviving nineteenth-century homes in the town. It is also described as one of the few surviving 1850s Greek Revival homes in Santa Cruz County and as an early redwood structure milled locally. It reflects the agricultural life of the valley from the 1850s into the twentieth century.
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 77000348, listed April 13, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4603 Scotts Valley Dr., Scotts Valley |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Cruz County |
| Listed | April 13, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000348 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1853) |
| Architect / builder | H.D. Scott/unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, occupied, with work in progress. Restoration was under way in 1976, when asbestos shingles were removed to reveal the original clapboard siding. The owner is the City of Scotts Valley, and the house is used as a museum, park and educational site. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.04898, -122.01819 (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 77000348.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85766663
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.