Big Four House

Big Four House
The Big Four Building, Old Sacramento
Location 220-226 K Street, Sacramento, California
Coordinates 38°34′58″N 121°30′12″W / 38.58278°N 121.50333°W / 38.58278; -121.50333Coordinates: 38°34′58″N 121°30′12″W / 38.58278°N 121.50333°W / 38.58278; -121.50333
Built c.1852
Architectural style Neo-Renaissance
NRHP Reference # 14000782
Significant dates
Added to NRHP October 15, 1966
Designated NHL July 4, 1961[1]

The Big Four House is a historic 19th-century building in Downtown Sacramento, California. It is now located within Old Sacramento State Historic Park and the Old Sacramento National Historic District.

History

The Big Four House was originally three separate buildings constructed over 1851 to 1852, adjacent to the Sacramento River waterfront. The original three structures included the Stanford Building, the Huntington & Hopkins Building, and the Miller Building.[2]

The Big Four

The lower floors were occupied by merchants, three of whom later became The Big Four (with Charles Crocker), hence the buildings' name. The Big Four were associated with the founding of the First Transcontinental Railroad linking California with the Eastern U.S. — and were Collis Huntington, Mark Hopkins, Jr., Leland Stanford, and Charles Crocker. On the second floor these buildings they organized and ran the Central Pacific Railroad Company of California, to plan, build, and operate the western section of the first Transcontinental Railroad. They also founded the Southern Pacific Railroad here.[2] Huntington, Hopkins & Co., which imported and sold hardware, iron, steel, and coal, occupied 54 "K" Street. The second floor of these structures served as the first offices of the Central Pacific Railroad from 1862 to 1873.[2]

By 1878 ownership was consolidated, and the structures were enlarged into one building. Over time it has also housed shops, including the Huntington & Hopkins Hardware Store, a bar and cafe, and a hotel on the second floor.[2]

Landmark

The Big Four House was declared a National Historic Landmark on July 4, 1961.[1][3] It is included within the Old Sacramento Historic District, which also is a National Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places.

It was also formerly a California Historical Landmark of its own, but now is a Historic district contributing property included in the registration of the Old Sacramento National Historic District.[4]

Huntington, Hopkins & Co., 54 "K" St., Sacramento (1874 billhead logotype)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Big Four House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  2. 1 2 3 4 DeHaas, John N., Jr. (August 1962). "Big Four Building" (PDF). Historic American Buildings Survey. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress.
  3. ↑ James Dillon (September 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Big Four House" (pdf). National Park Service. and Accompanying 3 photos, exterior and interior, from 1975 PDF (787 KB)
  4. ↑ "California State Parks - Sacramento County". Office of Historic Preservation. Retrieved 25 December 2011.

External links

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