Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Santa Cruz Hall of Records 1882

Salón de archivos de Santa Cruz 1882

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, December 9, 2022

1. Santa Cruz Hall of Records 1882 / Salón de archivos de Santa Cruz 1882 Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

English text:
The Octagon is one of the oldest buildings in downtown Santa Cruz. Architect John Wesley Newcum modeled the building after a $50 octagonal shaped gold piece first minted in San Francisco in 1851. The building, made of locally-sourced bricks, endured a major fire in 1894. It also survived the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989. The Octagon is one of the three historic structures operated by the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History.

Spanish Text:
El Octágono es uno de los edificios mas antiguos del Centro de Santa Cruz. El arquitecto John Wesley Newcum modeló el edificio basada en una pieza de oro octagonal de $50, acuñada por primera vez en San Francisco en 1851. El edificio, hecho de ladrillo de origen local, aguantó un gran incendio en 1894. También sobrevivió al terremoto de Loma Prieta en 1989. El Octágono es una de las tres estructuras históricas administradas por el Museo de Arte e Historia de Santa Cruz.

Erected 2018 by El Viceroy Marqués de Branciforte Chapter 1797 E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Notable Buildings.

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In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.

Location. 36° 58.501′ N, 122° 1.537′ W. Marker is in Santa Cruz, California, in Santa Cruz County. It is at the intersection of Cooper Street and Front Street, on the right when traveling west on Cooper Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 118 Cooper Street, Santa Cruz CA 95060, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Central Coast

and specifically on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Santa Cruz County Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); To the Chinese men and women who came to Gold Mountain (within shouting distance of this marker); San Lorenzo Park Redevelopement Project (within shouting

Santa Cruz Hall of Records 1882 / Salón de archivos Santa Cruz 1882 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by El Viceroy Marques de Branciforte Chapter 1797

2. Santa Cruz Hall of Records 1882 / Salón de archivos Santa Cruz 1882 Marker

distance of this marker); Tom Scribner (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Patrick Neary Building (about 300 feet away); Pacific Avenue Commercial Building (about 300 feet away); People's Bank (about 400 feet away); St. George Hotel (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Cruz.

<i>The Octagon, designed by J. W. Newcum</i> image. Click for full size.

Photo courtesy of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, circa 1895

3. The Octagon, designed by J. W. Newcum

Santa Cruz Hall of Records image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, December 9, 2022

4. Santa Cruz Hall of Records

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, December 9, 2022

5. Santa Cruz Hall of Records

Credits. This page was last revised on December 10, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2018, by Frank Gunshow Sanchez of Hollister, California. This page has been viewed 592 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 4, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. 2. submitted on November 8, 2018, by Frank Gunshow Sanchez of Hollister, California. 3. submitted on November 9, 2018. 4, 5. submitted on January 4, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.