American Indian Historical Society/Chautauqua House

1. 1900

   Built as a two-story house; its architect is not known.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
2. 1967

   The American Indian Historical Society, founded in 1964 by Rupert Costo (Cahuilla), Jeannette Henry-Costo (Eastern Cherokee) and thirteen other California American Indians, moved its headquarters here from the Costos' home and named the house Chautauqua House.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
3. 1969

   Chautauqua House served as the meeting place for an educational committee led by Richard Oakes (Mohawk), the Red Power leader who went on to help lead the Occupation of Alcatraz that November.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
4. May 1, 1975

   Over the Haight-Ashbury Neighborhood Council's wish to see the house return to family use, the City Planning Commission unanimously legalized, with six conditions, the American Indian Historical Society's library and museum there.

   San Francisco City Planning Commission minutes, San Francisco Public Library (Internet Archive)
5. 1986

   The American Indian Historical Society formally ceased operating as Rupert Costo's health failed, ending the house's run as Chautauqua House.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
6. Jan 1986

   Permit 8600089 $$$ $31,000

   Roof deck at garage; add new kitchen.

7. Oct 1992

   Permit 9218063 $$$ $18,000

   Remodel two bathrooms, add cabinetry, recarfigure lower level.

8. Aug 1997

   Permit 9714725 $$$ $1,450

   Dry rot repair at side door in garage.

9. Nov 1999

   Permit 9924046 $$$ $800

   Additional facia wrk at roof edge ref ap #9911584.

10. Sep 2002

    Permit 200209045558 $$$ $4,800

    Dry rot repair on left side of building. initial survey to incorporate 300 sqt. ifmore extensive then.

11. Nov 2002

    Issued Permit 200211050805 $$$ $6,500

    Revise 2002/09/04/5558.additional cost for dry rot repair at front of building.replace stucco in kind.

12. Jan 2003

    Permit 200301286042 $$$ $1,200

    Additional dry rot repair at front related to permit application 2002/11/05/0805- repair in kind no struct. changes.

13. Mar 2003

    Permit 200303311114 $$$ $1

    Renew app 200207252297 for final inspection.

14. Jan 2012

    Permit 201201242755 $$$ $72,900

    Interior renovation @ kitchen - new cabients, finishes, appliances replaced, new fixtures @ existing powder room. changes to exterior openings at south & west elevations, side & rear windows & doors replaced, bay window & new back door. no change to existing sq footage.

15. Aug 2016

    Issued Permit 201608306412 $$$ $17,400

    Reroofing.

16. May 2022

    Permit 202205265024 $$$ $40,000

    Remodel existing ground floor bathroom, new fixtures and finishes. replace 4 existing rear faving windows in-kind with marvin clad insulated windows. no street facing work.

17. April 2, 2025

    Named a landmark candidate

    Put forward as a candidate for individual landmark designation at a District 8 community forum held by the district supervisor and San Francisco Planning, one of twenty-one buildings on the list.

    Corbett Heights Neighbors, "May Neighborhood News", Vol. VII, No. 5 (1 May 2025)
18. April 30, 2026

    Designated San Francisco Landmark No. 324, American Indian Historical Society/Chautauqua House.

    SF Planning, landmark designation

4 expired permits are omitted.