Moore, James, House
Why it's listed
Southwest of Woodland, at the end of County Road 25A, stands a two-story brick farmhouse built in 1854 by James Moore. It measures about 30 by 20 feet, with a 12 by 15-foot kitchen at the rear, and combines a simple Federal farmhouse form with Victorian details such as sawn and carved brackets under a boxed cornice. The brick is now covered in stucco, the original surrounding porch has been replaced in part by a colonial revival porch, and one of four chimneys is gone. The nomination describes these changes as reversible. Moore came from Pennsylvania, reached California in 1849, and moved to Yolo County in 1854. He built Moore Dam on Cache Creek in 1856 and an irrigation ditch, earning the title "Father of Irrigation" in the county. The house is described as the oldest known surviving residence in Yolo County and an important reminder of the formative years of California agriculture.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the oldest known surviving residence in Yolo County, notable for its craftsmanship and detailing. It is tied to the county's agricultural development through James Moore, called the "Father of Irrigation" in Yolo County. Its mix of a Federal-style farmhouse with Victorian details is described as unique in the county.
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 78000827, listed November 16, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Woodland, Woodland |
|---|---|
| County | Yolo County |
| Listed | November 16, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000827 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1854) |
| Architect / builder | James Moore |
| Architectural style | Vernacular rendition of a simple Federal farmhouse with Victorian details |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in good condition, with alterations the form describes as reversible; the house stood empty during the 1930s. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 38.64160, -121.83826 (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 78000827.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.