Park Headquarters, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Also known as: Administration Building; Building No. 1
Why it's listed
Park Headquarters at Lassen Volcanic National Park is a two-story wood frame building measuring 30 by 60 feet, with a two-story front wing and a covered rear porch. Built by the National Park Service in 1929 for $16,000, it has a stone-veneered concrete foundation, dark brown horizontal siding, white trim and a steeply pitched shake roof designed to shed heavy snow. A roof overhang shelters the recessed front doorway. Inside are ten rooms, including offices for the superintendent, chief ranger and naturalist. It was listed for two reasons. It is regarded as an excellent local example of the Rustic style, which aimed to keep buildings subordinate to their setting by using native wood and stone. It has also been the center of park administration and maintenance since 1929. The nomination notes a drainage problem causing dampness and decay, and recommends preservation with in-kind repairs.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding local example of the 'Rustic' style used by National Park Service architects in the 1920s and 1930s, a style described as increasingly rare. It is also locally significant in conservation, as the building from which the park has been administered and maintained since 1929.
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 06000490, listed October 3, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off CA 36, Mineral |
|---|---|
| County | Tehama County |
| Listed | October 3, 1978 |
| Reference number | 06000490 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929 |
| Architect / builder | National Park Service |
| Architectural style | Rustic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Conservation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in good condition, though water leaks through the concrete foundation into the basement and has caused warping and rotting of siding and porch columns. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.34569, -121.60867 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 06000490.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7137764
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.