National Register of Historic Places listings in San Mateo County, California facts for kids

A map showing where San Mateo County is in California.

This article is a list of special places and buildings in San Mateo County, California that are part of the National Register of Historic Places. Think of it like a Hall of Fame for important historical sites in the United States!

These places are chosen because they are very old, have a unique design, or played a big part in history. When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized as important and efforts are made to protect it. In San Mateo County, there are 62 such places, including two that are even more special, called National Historic Landmarks.

What Are Historic Places in San Mateo County?

This section lists many of the cool and important places in San Mateo County that are on the National Register of Historic Places. Each one has a story to tell about the past!

Homes and Estates with History

• Barron-Latham-Hopkins Gate Lodge: This old gate lodge is located at 555 Ravenswood Avenue in Menlo Park. It was added to the list in 1986.

The Barron-Latham-Hopkins Gate Lodge.

• Filoli (Bourn-Roth Estate): Built in 1915, this beautiful estate was designed by Willis Polk for a wealthy mining owner named William Bourn. It's located near Woodside and became historic in 1975.

A beautiful garden pool at Filoli.

• Nathanial Brittan Party House: Found in San Carlos at 125 Dale Avenue, this house was added to the list in 1994.

The Nathanial Brittan Party House.

• The Carolands: This huge home in Hillsborough was built in 1914 for Harriet Pullman Carolan, whose father invented the famous Pullman sleeping cars for trains. It was also designed by Willis Polk and listed in 1975.

The grand Carolands Chateau.

• Ernest Coxhead House: This house in San Mateo at 37 East Santa Inez Avenue was recognized in 2000.

The Ernest Coxhead House.

• Eugene J. de Sabla, Jr., Teahouse and Tea Garden: This special Japanese farmhouse-style teahouse was built around 1907 for Eugene de Sabla, who helped start the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. It's in San Mateo and was listed in 1992.

The Eugene J. de Sabla, Jr., Teahouse.

• Green Gables-Mortimer Fleishhacker Country House: This vacation home in Woodside was built in 1911 in the Arts and Crafts style. It was designed by Charles Sumner Greene and listed in 1986.
• Arthur and Mona Hofmann House: Located in Hillsborough at 1048 La Cuesta Road, this house became historic in 1991.

The Arthur and Mona Hofmann House.

• Holbrook-Palmer Estate, "Elmwood": This estate in Atherton at 150 Watkins Avenue was added to the list in 2016.

Holbrook-Palmer Park, part of the estate.

• James Johnston House: This historic house in Half Moon Bay is on Higgins-Purisima Road and was listed in 1973.

The James Johnston House.

• Kohl Mansion: This large mansion in Burlingame at 2750 Adeline Drive was recognized in 1982.

The impressive Kohl Mansion.

• Lathrop House: Located in Redwood City at 627 Hamilton Street, this house was listed in 1973.

The Lathrop House.

• Newhall Estate: This estate in Hillsborough at 1761 Manor Drive became historic in 2007.

The Newhall Estate.

• John Offerman House: This house at 1018 Main Street in Redwood City was added in 2015.
• William C. Ralston House: This house on the College of Notre Dame campus in Belmont is a very special National Historic Landmark. It was listed way back in 1966!

The William C. Ralston House.

• San Gregorio House: This house on Old Stage Road in San Gregorio was listed in 1977.

The San Gregorio House.

• William Adam Simmons House: This house in Half Moon Bay at 751 Kelly Avenue was recognized in 1992.

The William Adam Simmons House.

• Amelia Vollers House: Located at 353 North Claremont Street in San Mateo, this house was added to the list in 2015.

The Amelia Vollers House.

• Watkins-Cartan House: Built around 1866 for Commodore James Watkins, this house in Atherton was listed in 1978. It was moved to a new location in 1998.

The Watkins-Cartan House.

• William A. Whifler House: This house at 1544 Drake Avenue in Burlingame was added to the list in 2016.
• X-100: This unique building at 1586 Lexington Avenue in San Mateo was listed in 2016.

Important Public Buildings and Landmarks

• Burlingame Railroad Station: This historic train station in Burlingame at Burlingame Avenue and California Drive was listed in 1978.

The Burlingame Railroad Station.

• Casa de Tableta: Now known as Alpine Inn, this building in Portola Valley has been around since the 1850s! It's at 3915 Alpine Road and was listed in 1973.

The historic Casa de Tableta.

• Church of the Nativity: This church in Menlo Park at 210 Oak Grove Avenue was recognized in 1980.

The Church of the Nativity.

• First Congregational Church of Pescadero: This church on San Gregorio Street in Pescadero was listed in 1980.

The First Congregational Church of Pescadero.

• Golden Gate National Cemetery: This important cemetery in San Bruno at 1300 Sneath Lane was added to the list in 2016.

An aerial view of Golden Gate National Cemetery.

• Hotel St. Matthew: This hotel in San Mateo at 215-229 Second Avenue was listed in 1998.

The Hotel St. Matthew.

• Independence Hall: This building in Woodside was built in 1884 and was listed in 1978. It was moved to its current spot next to Woodside Town Hall.

Independence Hall in Woodside.

• Martin Building: Now called the Metropolitan Hotel, this building in South San Francisco at 220 Linden Avenue was listed in 1997.

The Martin Building.

• Menlo Park Railroad Station: This train station in Menlo Park at 1100 Merrill Street was recognized in 1974.

The Menlo Park Railroad Station.

• Methodist Episcopal Church at Half Moon Bay: This church in Half Moon Bay at 777 Miramontes Street was listed in 1980.

The Methodist Episcopal Church at Half Moon Bay.

• Methodist Episcopal Church of Pescadero: This church in Pescadero at 108 San Gregorio Street was listed in 1982.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Pescadero.

• National Bank of San Mateo: This old bank building at 164 South B Street in San Mateo was listed in 1997.

The National Bank of San Mateo building.

• New Sequoia Theater Building: Also known as the Fox Theatre, this building in Redwood City at 2211-2235 Broadway was listed in 1994.

The New Sequoia Theater Building.

• Our Lady of the Wayside: This church in Portola Valley at 930 Portola Road was listed in 1977.

Our Lady of the Wayside Church.

• Pigeon Point Lighthouse: This famous lighthouse south of Pescadero was listed in 1977. It's a tall, beautiful landmark on the coast!

The Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

• Pilarcitos Creek Bridge: This bridge on Main Street across Pilarcitos Creek in Half Moon Bay was added to the list in 2014.

The Pilarcitos Creek Bridge.

• Point Montara Light Station: This lighthouse at the junction of 16th Street and Highway 1 in Montara was listed in 1991.

The Point Montara Light Station.

• Portola Valley School: This old school building at 775 Portola Road in Portola Valley was listed in 1974. It was later used as the town hall.

The historic Portola Valley School.

• Princeton Hotel: This hotel in Princeton at Capistrano Road and Prospect Way was recognized in 1979.

The Princeton Hotel.

• Redwood City Historic Commercial Buildings: This group of historic buildings in Redwood City around Broadway and Main Streets was listed in 1977.

One of the historic commercial buildings in Redwood City.

• San Francisco Bay Discovery Site: This special spot on Sweeney Ridge, west of San Bruno, is a National Historic Landmark. It's where explorers first saw San Francisco Bay! It was listed in 1968.

A view from the San Francisco Bay Discovery Site.

• San Mateo County Courthouse: This courthouse on Broadway in Redwood City was listed in 1977.

The San Mateo County History Museum, which is the old courthouse.

• Sanchez Adobe Park: This park in Pacifica on Linda Mar Boulevard was listed in 1976.

The Sanchez Adobe building.

• Sequoia Union High School: This high school in Redwood City at 1201 Brewster Avenue was recognized in 1995.

Sequoia Union High School.

• South San Francisco Hillside Sign: This famous sign on Sign Hill Park in South San Francisco was listed in 1996.

The South San Francisco Hillside Sign.

• Southern Pacific Depot (Millbrae): This train station in Millbrae at 21 East Millbrae Avenue was listed in 1978.

The Southern Pacific Depot in Millbrae.

• Southern Pacific Railroad Bayshore Roundhouse: This large building in Brisbane was built between 1907 and 1910 to house steam train engines. It was listed in 2010.

The Southern Pacific Railroad Bayshore Roundhouse.

• Southern Pacific Depot (San Carlos): This train station in San Carlos at 559 El Camino Real was listed in 1984.

The Southern Pacific Depot in San Carlos.

• Union Cemetery: This historic cemetery in Redwood City at 316 Woodside Road was listed in 1983.

Union Cemetery.

• US Post Main Office-San Mateo: This post office building in San Mateo at 210 South Ellsworth Avenue was listed in 1988.

The US Post Main Office in San Mateo.

• Woodside Store: This old store at 471 Kings Mountain Road in Woodside was listed in 1985.

The Woodside Store.

Other Interesting Historic Sites

• Archeological Site SMA-151: This important archeological site near Princeton was listed in 1978. Its exact location is kept private to protect it.
• Dickerman Barn: This barn on Cabrillo Highway in Pescadero was listed in 1982.

The Dickerman Barn.

• Folger Estate Stable Historic District: This historic stable area in Woodside at 4040 Woodside Road was listed in 2004.

The Folger Estate Stable Historic District.

• Green Oaks Ranch House: This ranch house south of Pescadero on Highway 1 was listed in 1976.
• Howard-Ralston Eucalyptus Tree Rows: These rows of eucalyptus trees along El Camino Real in Burlingame were listed in 2012.

The Howard-Ralston Eucalyptus Tree Rows.

• John Dielmann House: This house at 1020 Main Street in Redwood City was added in 2015.
• Robert Mills Dairy Barn: This dairy barn on Higgins Purissima Road in Half Moon Bay was listed in 1990.

The Robert Mills Dairy Barn.

• POLARIS (research vessel): This research ship docked at 597 Seaport Boulevard in Redwood City was listed in 2015.

Former Historic Listing

Sometimes, a place might be removed from the National Register of Historic Places. This usually happens if the building is destroyed or changes too much.

• Rock Magnetics Laboratory: This lab in Menlo Park was listed in 1994, but it was taken off the list in 1999 because it was torn down in 1997.

The Rock Magnetics Laboratory before it was demolished.