Old Bank of America Building
Also known as: The Daily News
Why it's listed
Built about 1925 at 710 Main Street in downtown Red Bluff, this one-and-a-half-story bank building measures roughly 78 by 55 feet and has a full basement. It is built of concrete block and brick and sheathed in white terra cotta, with a flat roof, a parapet carved with scrolls and fans, and a recessed entrance porch with two concrete columns. Inside, the original ceiling rises about 21 feet and has ornate plaster pilasters, and three vaults remain. The Red Bluff National Bank built it, and it later passed through several banking successors until Bank of America sold it in 1959. It then sat empty for ten years before becoming a newspaper office. The building is considered the best local example of Neoclassical bank design, conveying a sense of monumentality suited to banking. San Francisco architect William H. Weeks designed it. Its prominent corner site contrasts with the older brick and frame buildings nearby.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its link to the development of banking in Red Bluff and as the finest local example of Neoclassical bank styling of its period. It is also the work of William H. Weeks, a prolific and prominent California architect. Its corner location in the downtown core adds to its significance.
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 80000873, listed July 28, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 710 Main St., Red Bluff |
|---|---|
| County | Tehama County |
| Listed | July 28, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000873 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925 |
| Architect / builder | William H. Weeks |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied at the time of nomination by a newspaper, The Daily News; the building stood empty from 1959 to 1969, and a savings and loan planned to occupy it and restore original interior features. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.17783, -122.23496 (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 80000873.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7083426
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.