Octagon Building, Santa Cruz

The Octagon Building, an iconic redbrick, octagonal structure in Santa Cruz, stands prominently on Cooper Street at the intersection with Front Street. Constructed in 1882, this historic building initially served as the County Hall of Records, positioned next to the original County Courthouse built in 1866. Its unique design was inspired by a $50 octagonal-shaped gold coin minted in San Francisco during 1851-52, with architectural plans drawn up by J. W. Newcum of Oakland.

Despite its surroundings suffering extensive damage, the Octagon Building has demonstrated remarkable resilience. In 1894, it was one of the few structures to withstand a devastating fire that destroyed many nearby buildings, including the courthouse it was built beside. It survived again in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which caused significant damage to many other historic brick buildings in the area.

The building ceased to serve as the County Hall of Records in 1968 when the records were relocated to a new County Government Center. It was then repurposed and has since played various roles in the community. On March 24, 1971, the Octagon was recognized for its historical significance and added to the National Register of Historic Places. Two years later, in 1973, it was also listed as a historic landmark by the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH).

From 1993, the Octagon Building hosted the Museum Store for the adjacent Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History and was later transformed into a coffeehouse. Although vacant as of October 2016, the building continues to be administered by the MAH, awaiting new opportunities to serve the public and enrich Santa Cruz’s cultural landscape.