Sonoma State Home-Main Building
Also known as: Sonoma State Hospital; Sonoma Developmental Center
Why it's listed
Rising three stories above a basement on the grounds of the Sonoma Developmental Center in Eldridge, this red brick and terracotta building opened in 1908 as the main building of the Sonoma State Home. It replaced an 1891 structure largely destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, and the two slightly projecting rear sections are remnants of that first building. State Architect George Sellon designed it in the Victorian Gothic style, with cream glazed terracotta trim, a slate roof and an arched entry porch. It was listed for its role as the oldest surviving building of California's first facility for the care and training of developmentally delayed children, founded in 1883, and for its architecture. The Home later took part in early intelligence testing studies and in sterilization programs that the nomination describes with alarm. The building is now vacant and needs repair, though its exterior retains very high integrity.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest remaining building of California's first facility for the education and care of developmentally delayed children (Criterion A). It is also a very good institutional example of Victorian Gothic architecture and the focal point of the campus (Criterion C). The Home also took part in early intelligence testing work and in the era's sterilization practices.
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 00001180, listed October 6, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 15000 Arnold Dr., Eldridge |
|---|---|
| County | Sonoma County |
| Listed | October 6, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00001180 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1908-1950 |
| Architect / builder | Sellon & Hemmings, Architects: McElroy/Copeland & Pierce of San Fran |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Gothic (Victorian Gothic) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Health/Medicine |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently vacant and showing signs of neglect, especially from birds entering the building; exterior brick and terracotta remain in excellent condition and the building is in need of repair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.34905, -122.51970 (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.
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 00001180.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7562181
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.