Green: Haas-Lilienthal House, San Francisco, CA.

Haas-Lilienthal House Museum, Photo found at BAC [A+P]

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has recognized the Haas-Lilienthal House as one of America's National Treasures; a new campaign to save historic places of national significance.  Built in 1886, the Queen Anne home "conveys the role of Jewish immigrants in the development of the American West."  It is also becoming a role model for urban house museums by developing a sustainable management plan that follows "green" initiatives, including maintenance practices, capital improvements, and seeking out increased relevance to today's visitors.  Spearheaded by architect, historian, and planner, Barbara Campagna and the museum's management, SF Heritage, the team will strive for a "net zero" or LEED Gold certification.  For California's historic buildings, this can mean the difference between struggling through long-term challenges or a thriving future.

Update:  Staff at the National Trust for Historic Preservation had some fun seeking out San Francisco's Hidden Gems, including the Haas-Lilienthal House.  Take a look at their adventure through many of San Francisco's unique neighborhoods and places, then consider following it for a different view of the City.

Saved: Angels Gate Lighthouse, San Pedro, CA.

Angels Gate Lighthouse.  Photo by Tash for her photoblog Palos Verdes Daily Photo

Kudos to the Cabrillo Beach Boosters with assistance by the Port of Los Angeles Community Advisory Committee in rehabilitating the lighthouse's appearance for years to come.  As reported in Preservation, a magazine by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the repairs and improvements to its exterior completed the $1.8 million project.  The interior still needs another $1.6 million, but it appears that the Cabrillo Beach Boosters are up for the challenge.

Over 25 lighthouses dot the California coastline from San Diego's Point Loma to Crescent City's St. George Reef.  One of the most notable to visitors requires a healthy heart to descend its many steps at Pt. Reyes National Seashore.  Some are open to overnight stays at the lighthouse's houses, like the one I stayed at a few years back at Pt. Arena.  Old salts and lighthouses make for great stories of the sea, and California's coastline has its share.  Contemporary stories include one relocated from Cape Cod. Some may be difficult, indeed impossible to reach by land, but all at some point in time guided the seafaring to safety.

Threatened: Bell House, Windsor, CA.

Bell House, Windsor, CA.  Photo by Thomas Eddy

The Bell House is a locally significant landmark representing one of the oldest families in early Windsor, California.  The Bell family's influence was widespread within the community, where several streets were originally named after them.  Built in 1878, the home is currently for sale.  It has gone through some rough times; divided into upper and lower apartments and a failed nursery business that took over the parcel, the Bell House has thus far persevered.  Fortunately, the home is listed on the Town of Windsor's Historic Register, so anyone considering the purchase will benefit from meeting with town staff.  The home is also prominently represented both virtually and aesthetically: the Town of Windsor's website depicts a rendering of the home under the town's brief history page, and a similar etching can be seen at the Town Green's timeline walk.  No better way to support local identity and sense of place!

Update:  The Bell House is currently off the market for unknown reasons.

Threatened: Stone Guard Rail, Highway 20 Corridor, Clearlake Oaks, CA.

Stone guard rail along Highway 20.  Photo by Thomas Eddy

Whether written, cast, etched, or built in, stone evokes permanence.  Headstones give us a sense of immortality, and stone buildings provide us with solid shelter.  During California's early highway building, stone guard rails provided a sense of security that belied accidents' realities.  Here, between the towns of Clearlake Oaks and Glenhaven, a big rig made news when it effortlessly broke through one of these guard rails.  Traffic cones in neon orange have replaced the missing sections of the guard rail, challenging our notions of permanence.

This section of highway was built in the early 1930s to connect our northerly coast line to the Central Valley and the Sierras, ultimately developing a unique byway crossing some of the state's diverse microclimates.   Their arches seem impossibly delicate when made of stone and mortar.  Unfortunately, they are no match for big rigs or other wayward vehicles.  The traffic cones expose only part of their damage...driving along, one can see many pilaster caps broken and missing some of the stones.

At the time of writing this post, an inquiry to CalTrans' District 1 has been sent asking the fate of the stone guard rails.  Their response will be posted.