Bird and Dinkelspiel Store
Also known as: Benjamin Store
Why it's listed
Standing at a rural crossroads in Bird's Landing, Solano County, this two-story wooden store was built in 1875 and measures 60 by 24 feet. Its front-gabled form is a vernacular adaptation of Greek Revival design, classed as a "National" style commercial building. The first floor is a single sales room that keeps its original shelves, rolling-ladder tracks, post office boxes and safe, while the upstairs hall was used for lodge and community meetings. The store anchored the settlement that grew around John Bird's wharf and warehouse on the Montezuma slough. Over time it also served as a post office, telegraph office and Odd Fellows meeting place, and it became a trade center for local farmers and ranchers. Its partnership of Bird and Dinkelspiel ran it until about 1900. The building is recognized for its role in commerce and settlement, its link to Bird, and its well-preserved vernacular design. It was under rehabilitation for reopening as a general store when nominated.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the store was an essential commercial outpost that supported early settlement of the Sacramento Delta (Criterion A). It is tied to John Bird, namesake of the town, whose activities led to its settlement (Criterion B). It is also an excellent example of a vernacular 'National' style commercial building that keeps a high degree of integrity (Criterion C).
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 99001264, listed October 21, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2145 Collinsville Rd., Bird's Landing |
|---|---|
| County | Solano County |
| Listed | October 21, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001264 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1875-1900 |
| Architect / builder | Frank, Jacob; Dinkelspiel, Moses |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival/vernacular ("National" style) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Undergoing rehabilitation at the time of nomination, with plans to re-open as a general store; the building has served continuously as a store and retains high integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Sacramento Northern Railway Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.13265, -121.87102 (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.
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 99001264.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4915920
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.