On July 14, 1971, Mendocino became a National Historic District and was added to the National Register of Historic Places, a list of historic locations worthy of preservation. The designated 130 acres includes the land “bounded roughly by the Pacific Ocean on the W and S, Little Lake St. on the N, and CA 1 on the East.”
The register contains over 100,000 locations, including George Washington’s Mount Vernon home and the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. Mendocino County boasts 45 entries on the list, including the Point Cabrillo Light Station and the Sun House in Ukiah.
The entry was years in the making, stemming from a desire to curtail modern development within the town. In the late 1960s, artist Emmy Lou Packard began an effort to save the Mendocino headlands from housing development. The Mendocino Headlands Park Committee formed shortly after and arranged a land swap between the Boise Cascade Company, which owned the headlands property, and California State Parks. The Mendocino Headlands State Park was established in 1974, while Boise Cascade received timberland located inland.
With work on the headlands underway in the late 1960s, people turned towards the town itself. The application for the National Register included photos of the Presbyterian Church, MacCallum House, Masonic Hall, Temple of Kwan Tai, and Main Street included as evidence of Mendocino’s unique architecture.
Citing the historic significance of the area, the application says Mendocino represents “the beginning of the Californian redwood lumber industry. The site contains natural and scenic resource values representative of the rugged Mendocino Coast … Today the town remains much as it was in earlier times. It has retained the rare individuality of architecture and environment which makes one’s visit a satisfying experience.”
The application was accepted in 1971 and work continued. The Headlands Park Committee petitioned to create the Historic Preservation District Ordinance, which the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors accepted and put into effect on March 9, 1973. This established the Mendocino Historical Review Board and the standards for preservation within the district. The Review Board monitors the appearance of the district and outlines procedures to protect the historic integrity of Mendocino’s architecture.
Today, the town of Mendocino appears much as it did 100-plus years ago. When the idea for a historic district was originally proposed, William M. Mott, the State Parks Director, suggested that the entire town become a museum, including locals wearing period costumes to create a fully immersive experience. Needless to say, Mendocino still has charm, even without Victorian-era costumes.
Averee McNear is the curator at the Kelley House Museum in Mendocino, Calif.