Yolo County Courthouse
Also known as: The Courthouse
Why it's listed
Yolo County Courthouse, completed in 1917 on Courthouse Square in the center of Woodland, is a two-story classical building that rises from a rusticated masonry basement and is topped by an open balustrade. Its walls are Portland cement faced with Colusa sandstone, with terra cotta cornice work made by Gladding-McBean, and a Corinthian portico reached by 21 stone steps. Inside, marble, oak woodwork and rotundas with murals by Theodosa Durand remain largely as built. San Francisco architect William Henry Weeks designed it, and Robert Trost of San Francisco was the general contractor. It replaced an earlier courthouse condemned as unsafe in 1911, after faulty foundations and the 1902 earthquake. The square itself was deeded to the county in 1862 by Franklin S. Freeman. The building was listed for its link to Woodland's growth and county government, and as a fine, little-altered example of monumental public architecture of its era. It remains in use for courts and county offices.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the courthouse is significant for its association with the development of Woodland and local government in Yolo County. It is also presented as a fine example of the monumental government buildings of its period, notable for its beauty and innovative use of building materials. It is described as the only surviving example of this monumental governmental type still in use 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 86003660, listed February 26, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 725 Court St., Woodland |
|---|---|
| County | Yolo County |
| Listed | February 26, 1987 |
| Reference number | 86003660 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1917 |
| Architect / builder | William Henry Weeks (1864-1936), architect; Robert Trost of San Francisco, general contractor |
| Architectural style | Eclectic combination of Greek, Roman and Renaissance styles |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use by the County of Yolo; the exterior is described as unchanged since 1917, and interior renovation was under way to restore original appearance and court functions. |
| Acreage | 2.4 |
| Within district | Downtown Woodland Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.67930, -121.77098 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 86003660.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8054810
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.