Downtown North in Palo Alto in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

401 Florence

Photographed by Sam Skeen

1. 401 Florence Marker

Inscription. This brick building, built in 1903, is a fine survival of early Palo Alto architectural and religious history. Its presence in the heart of the downtown commercial area, where few examples of early buildings remain, is a special asset. It served as a congregation of the First Christian Church building until 1919 and then was used as a church home by the Palo Alto Church of Nazarene. The arched openings and brick detailing suggest a Romanesque architectural mode. It is an elegant building in style unusual to that found in the era of Palo Alto.

The Historic Resources Board (HRB) has designated the building historic, classified it as Category 2, and listed in the Palo Alto Historic Resources Inventory.

Erected by The Historic Resources Board (HRB).

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1903.

Location. 37° 26.838′ N, 122° 9.723′ W. Marker is in Palo Alto, California, in Santa Clara County. It is in Downtown North. It is at the intersection of Florence Street and Lytton Avenue, on the right when

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traveling west on Florence Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Florence Street, Palo Alto CA 94301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area,

in Silicon Valley,

and 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: First Elementary School (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Hospital (about 800 feet away); The Face Book (approx. 0.2 miles away); History of Tower Well (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hostess House (approx. 0.4 miles away); San Francisquito Creek Watershed (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named San Francisquito Creek Watershed (approx. 0.4 miles away); El Palo Alto (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers

Photographed by Sam Skeen, July 6, 2024

2. 401 Florence Marker

in Palo Alto.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Hostess House War and Veterans Memorial (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

401 Florence Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sam Skeen

3. 401 Florence Building

Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2024, by Sam Skeen of State College, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 317 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 6, 2024, by Sam Skeen of State College, Pennsylvania. 2, 3. submitted on July 7, 2024, by Sam Skeen of State College, Pennsylvania. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.