Southern Pacific Railroad Station
Why it's listed
Standing at the eastern end of 2nd Street in Davis, California, this railroad depot was built in 1913-1914 for the Southern Pacific and designed by the company's Architectural Bureau. It replaced an 1868 station built for the California Pacific Rail Road Company. The building is a two-story Mission Revival structure with smooth plastered walls, rows of arches on the first story, castellated parapets, curvilinear end parapets, and a low-pitched tile roof with bracketed cornices. An oval bearing the date 1913 is its main ornament. Only minor changes, such as added doors, have been made, and it remains on its original site. The depot matters as the only surviving Mission Revival building in Davis and one of a handful of historic structures left in the city. It also represents a late example of a style that was losing momentum by the 1910s, and it recalls the railroad's part in shaping Davis, including access for the University Farm. It has operated continuously as a station.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the only surviving example of Mission Revival architecture in Davis and one of very few historic buildings left in the city. It is a late example of a style that was fading by 1910s. It also reflects the railroad's role in the city's development and has been in continuous use since 1914.
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 76000541, listed November 7, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | H and 2nd Sts., Davis |
|---|---|
| County | Yolo County |
| Listed | November 7, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000541 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1913-1914 |
| Architect / builder | Architectural Bureau, Southern Pacific |
| Architectural style | Mission Style (Mission Revival) |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good to excellent condition with minor exterior alterations; in continuous use as a railroad station since 1914. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 38.54350, -121.73772 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 76000541.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q3096353
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.