Berylwood
Also known as: Bard,Thomas R.,Estate
Why it's listed
Berylwood is the former estate of Thomas R. Bard, now part of the U.S. Naval Construction Battalion Center at Port Hueneme, California. The district covers about 62 acres and includes the main Bard House, the Richard Bard House (built 1910 and enlarged between 1918 and 1926), a guest house known as the Doll House (1925), a milk house, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and botanical gardens planted between 1871 and 1915. Bard came to California in 1865 and became a leading figure in early oil development, helping form Union Oil Company of California in 1890. He also built Hueneme Wharf in 1871, which made Hueneme a major grain shipping port, and he served as a Santa Barbara County supervisor while Ventura County was being formed. He was a U.S. Senator from 1900 to 1905. The gardens hold about 260 rare trees representing 78 species. The Navy acquired the property in 1951 and continues to use and preserve it.
Significance in brief: The estate was the home of Thomas R. Bard, a California pioneer, oil industry figure, businessman and U.S. Senator (1900-1905). Bard helped found Union Oil Company of California, built Hueneme Wharf, and helped form Ventura County. The estate's botanical gardens also gained international recognition for their rare trees and plants.
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 77000360, listed September 15, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Ventura Rd., Port Hueneme |
|---|---|
| County | Ventura County |
| Listed | September 15, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000360 |
| Resource type | District |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Landscape Architecture, Commerce, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used by the Navy: the Thomas R. Bard House serves as an Officers Club, the Richard Bard House as senior officers' quarters, and the Navy preserves the botanical gardens. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 34.15765, -119.19699 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 77000360.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16840798
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.