Hotel Macdoel
Why it's listed
Built in 1909 at the corner of Montezuma Avenue and Mt. Shasta Street, this two and one-half story hotel sits on lava rock reinforced with concrete in Macdoel, in far northern California's Butte Valley. Its symmetry and horizontal lines reflect Colonial Revival design, while bracketed eaves, a balustraded entrance porch and contrasting shiplap and shingle siding retain Victorian touches. Inside, the lobby keeps its original brick fireplace and oak staircase, and the second floor holds 21 rooms. The building matters because of its role in a colonization effort in which the Union Pacific Railroad, the Butte Valley Land Company and the Church of the Brethren sought to settle members in this remote valley. Besides lodging, it served as land office, general store, bank and dining room. The colony began failing in 1910 because the climate could not support the intensive farming planned, and by 1918 few Brethren remained. The hotel continued as a community focus for railroad workers, ranchers, loggers and travelers.
Significance in brief: The hotel is tied to the early twentieth-century settlement of Butte Valley, when the Union Pacific Railroad, the Butte Valley Land Company and the Church of the Brethren promoted a colony there. It housed the hotel, land office, general store and bank, and so was the focal point of the colonization effort. After the colony failed, it stayed on as the main building in the community.
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 82002275, listed February 11, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Montezuma Ave. and Mt. Shasta St., Macdoel |
|---|---|
| County | Siskiyou County |
| Listed | February 11, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002275 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | D.D. Hufford |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival with Victorian design characteristics |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as vacant at the time of nomination, with rehabilitation planned by its owners. Condition listed as fair, with few alterations since 1909. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.82835, -122.00392 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 82002275.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85767368
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.