Gibson, William B., House
Also known as: Yolo County Museum
Why it's listed
Set back from Gibson Road behind old trees and shrubs, this brick house in southern Woodland grew in stages from a small 16-by-20-foot wooden building. William Byas Gibson, a Virginia-born farmer and Shorthorn cattle breeder, bought the property and about 320 acres in 1857. He added a two-story brick main house, finished by 1872 at a cost of $7,000, and later a smaller brick wing. The main block reflects modified Georgian massing, with a hipped roof and a central hall plan. An 1879 lithograph shows two-story verandas. A classical portico of four Ionic columns was added later, probably between 1890 and 1910. The walls are plastered and scored to imitate stone. The house is valued as a reminder of the Gibson family's role in the agricultural and civic development of Yolo County, and as the city's only surviving example of its modified Classical style. Yolo County acquired the site for use as a museum.
Significance in brief: The house is a physical reminder of the Gibson family's influence on agricultural, commercial and civic affairs in early Woodland and Yolo County. Architecturally it is described as the only remaining example of Modified Classical style in a city rich in Victorian buildings. Its park-like grounds and fireproof brick construction also suit its use as a county museum.
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 76000542, listed November 7, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 512 Gibson Rd., Woodland |
|---|---|
| County | Yolo County |
| Listed | November 7, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000542 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1857 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Modified Georgian / Modified Classical Revival, with Monterey-type veranda and Mannerist-Italianate influences |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by Yolo County and being developed as the Yolo County Museum. The main house is in fair repair, but the roof needs immediate attention to prevent interior deterioration. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 38.66238, -121.77379 (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 76000542.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1523029
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.