Miller, Warren P., House
Also known as: Aaron, Mary, Museum
Why it's listed
Built in 1856 at 704 D Street in Marysville, this two-story brick house was designed and constructed by Warren Phinney Miller as his family home and place of business. Its castellated Gothic Revival design includes crocketed pinnacles, a continuous crenelated parapet, elliptical arched windows, and balconies with sliding louvered screens. The design is unusual because the style was more often used for public and church buildings. Miller lived there until 1863, a period when Marysville was one of California's largest cities. He was the city's principal architect, responsible for the Yuba County Courthouse and the 1858 State Fair pavilion, and he received patents for inventions including an early steam-driven crawler tractor. The house has been altered by rear additions, a 1960s courtyard, and a coating applied over the sandblasted brick after the city acquired it in 1954. It still conveys its original appearance, particularly from the front, and now serves as a museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues local significance under Criterion B for its association with Warren P. Miller, an architect and inventor, and under Criterion C as a fine example of Gothic Revival design and the work of a master architect. Miller lived and worked there from 1856 to 1863, designed major Marysville buildings, and built an early steam crawler tractor during those years. The house is described as a rare, castle-like example of its style in the region.
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 98000225, listed March 12, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 704 D St., Marysville |
|---|---|
| County | Yuba County |
| Listed | March 12, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000225 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1856-1863 |
| Architect / builder | Miller, Warren P. |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century, Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Invention |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a museum (Mary Aaron Museum); the city has owned it since 1954 and the exterior coating is separating, with rehabilitation planned. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.14266, -121.58985 (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 98000225.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133572202
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.