Newcastle Portuguese Hall was built by Portuguese families to serve as a meeting hall for three fraternal societies: Irmandade do Divino Espirito Santo, Uniao Portuguesa do Estado da California, and Sociedade Portuguesa Rainha Santa Isabel.

These societies are devoted to preserving Portuguese culture and tradition, most notably the Holy Spirit Festas held in May and June throughout California.

Portuguese began to immigrate to California in the mid 1800's. They came to the gold fields, worked on the railroads, and became dairymen and fruit farmers.

Excerptred from the NRHP nomination.