The Heilbron House was built in 1881 for German born August Heilbron and his family. This Italianate mansion was designed by Sacramento architect, Nathaniel Goodell to be similar to, but less pretentious than the Albert Gallatin Mansion (California Historical Landmark 823).

August Heilbron was a wealthy rancher and community figure, whose elegant home reflected his position and financial success.

Adapted from the NRHP nomination submitted in 1976.

After World War II, most of the magnificent homes in this neighborhood were razed and replaced with banal government office buildings. The Heilbron House was one of the few to escape the bulldozers. When we photographed the building in January 2009, it was surrounded by parking lots and contained a few offices for employees of the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

The neighborhood was being redeveloped as the West End Office Complex, and the Heilbron House will likely be spared once again. The California Department of General Services was evaluating alternative proposals to renovate the house where it stands or to move it to a more sympathetic location.