Sweed, Philip, House
Why it's listed
This two-storey house at 301 Keokuk Street in Petaluma was built in 1892 of local redwood by master builder Samuel Rodd for Philip Sweed, a German-born dry-goods merchant. It combines Queen Anne and Eastlake design, with three cross gables, bands of square and fishscale shingles, spindlework, and a wraparound arcaded porch. Inside, original redwood woodwork, wallpapers, graining, brass hardware and an early central heating system survive. The house sits on a double corner lot within the Oak Hill historic residential area. Sweed served on the city Board of Education for nearly thirty years, from 1893 to 1925, and a school was named for him. The house is the one remaining building in Petaluma that best reflects his work in education. It is also considered one of the finest and least altered Queen Anne residences in the city. The basement was converted to an apartment in 1974 without exterior changes, and the exterior was restored in 1982.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be one of the best residential examples of Queen Anne style in Petaluma and remains largely unaltered inside and out (Criterion C). It is also the building that best illustrates the achievements of Philip Sweed, who served on the city Board of Education from 1893 to 1925 (Criterion B, Education).
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 92000787, listed June 18, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 301 Keokuk St., Petaluma |
|---|---|
| County | Sonoma County |
| Listed | June 18, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000787 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1893 - 1925 |
| Architect / builder | RODD, Samuel (Petaluma master builder); built for Philip Sweed |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Queen Anne (Queen Anne - Eastlake) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Basement remodeled in 1974 into a rental apartment; exterior professionally restored in 1982; described as basically unaltered and in good condition. Current function listed as multiple dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 38.23634, -122.64619 (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 92000787.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q105104368
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.