Walton, Dr. Robert and Mary, House
Why it's listed
Built between 1959 and 1961 on a rural site near the Stanislaus River on the eastern edge of Modesto, this L-shaped house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Dr. Robert and Mary Walton and their growing family. It is a Usonian design of painted concrete block on a steel frame, with a flat multi-level roof, wide eaves with a geometric wooden fascia, and a two-story tower at the bend of the L. The street side is closed and plain, with a clerestory, while the rear opens through glass walls to terraces, a pool and views toward the Sierra. Floors are red concrete marked with a grid, and much of the furniture and cabinetry was designed by Wright's Taliesin studio. Wright died during construction, and Taliesin associates finished the work. The house is recognized as an excellent example of his late Usonian work and one of few he designed in California. It has changed very little since it was built.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of Wright's Usonian houses and of his late residential work, meeting all three subcategories of Criterion C. It shows Usonian cost-saving construction such as concrete block, steel framing, a grid-based plan and concrete floors. It is also one of the few Usonian houses Wright designed in California, and the nomination rates it significant at the state level.
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 06001133, listed December 14, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 417 Hogue Dr., Modesto |
|---|---|
| County | Stanislaus County |
| Listed | December 14, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06001133 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1961 |
| Architect / builder | Wright, Frank Lloyd |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement (Usonian) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Retains excellent integrity, with no major exterior or interior changes; original furniture and finishes remain. It is still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 37.74859, -120.99430 (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 06001133.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q123488807
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.