Hinds Hotel
Also known as: Freestone House
Why it's listed
Freestone House, historically called the Hinds Hotel, is a two-story wood-frame hotel on Bohemian Highway in the small Sonoma County town of Freestone, California. Built around 1873, it has an L-shaped plan, shiplap siding, six-over-six windows and a gabled roof with center gables. Its most notable feature is the pointed-arch Gothic windows and glass door beneath the gables, topped by label molding. A balcony added before 1902 has become part of its historic character. The hotel was built in anticipation of the narrow gauge North Pacific Coast Railroad, and Freestone served as the line's terminus in 1876 while a large bridge was built farther north. Its Gothic Revival style is now relatively rare among California hotels, and it is the only hotel remaining in the corridor between Bodega and the redwood forest. An 1877 county atlas pictures the building and names H.B. Hinds as its owner. It was later known as the Park House and the Wayside Inn.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the few Gothic Revival hotels in California and the only hotel left in the historic corridor between Bodega and the redwood forest. It was built in anticipation of the North Pacific Coast narrow gauge railroad and is the most prominent structure in Freestone. Reviewers also noted its link to the late 19th-century redwood lumber boom and related transportation developments.
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 79000557, listed January 31, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 306 Bohemian Hwy., Freestone |
|---|---|
| County | Sonoma County |
| Listed | January 31, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000557 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; the form marks the property as occupied, with commercial and private residence uses. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 38.37221, -122.91571 (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 79000557.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q51105227
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.