Nelson Ranch
Why it's listed
Near Woodland in Yolo County, California, a two-story red brick farmhouse built in 1872 anchors what remains of the Camillus Nelson Ranch. The house is mainly Italianate, with local adaptations, and has a round-arched molded doorway, strip cornices over the windows and a pediment above the central upper window. Wooden sections stand at the northwest and northeast corners. Inside are eleven-foot ceilings with original rosettes, a double parlor and seven upstairs bedrooms. Nelson, a Kentucky native and Mexican War veteran, acquired about 3,000 acres of swamp and overflow land along Cache Creek and built his headquarters for cattle and grain raising at its center. The house and about 100 acres were given to the State of California for restoration as a living historic farm representing the 1860-1900 period. The nomination links the site to Yolo County's early agricultural success and its role in developing farm machinery. The balustraded porches have been removed, and the brick mortar needs repair.
Significance in brief: The house is a pioneer farm home built at the center of Camillus Nelson's roughly 3,000-acre cattle and grain operation. It was deeded to the State of California for restoration as a living historic farm of the 1860-1900 period. The nomination argues this has educational and cultural value tied to Yolo County's agricultural success and its role in farm machinery invention.
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 72000266, listed July 17, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | CA 18C between CA 113 and 102, Woodland |
|---|---|
| County | Yolo County |
| Listed | July 17, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000266 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1872 |
| Architectural style | Principally Italianate, with local adaptations of various styles |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair and altered. The porches have been removed and the mortar and some interior walls need restoration. The land has been deeded to the State Department of Parks and Recreation for restoration. |
| Acreage | 100 |
| Coordinates | 38.71110, -121.74082 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 72000266.
- 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.