South Gate city feature
About this landmark
A preserved family home designated a Culturally Significant Landmark, now relocated to the Civic Center complex.
The Seaborg family home stands relocated on Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg Way, adjacent to South Gate's City Hall. The residence has been preserved as a Culturally Significant Landmark by the City of South Gate, where it occupies a place of honor within the Civic Center complex, serving as a public monument to the family's contributions to science and the community.
The Seaborg family and a Nobel Prize legacy
The home originally stood in a subdivision called Home Gardens, which was later annexed into the City of South Gate. Herman Theodore and Selma Olivia Seaborg moved into the residence in 1922 with their children Glenn Theodore and Jeanette. Glenn Seaborg lived in the home from 1922 to 1934; his parents remained there until their deaths. Glenn T. Seaborg attended Victoria Elementary School in South Gate before going on to his scientific career.
Glenn T. Seaborg won the 1951 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, shared with Edwin McMillan, "for their discoveries in the chemistry of the first transuranium elements." Element 106, seaborgium, was named for him while he was still living—the first element ever officially named after a living person. From 1961 to 1971, Seaborg chaired the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission under Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon, shaping U.S. nuclear policy during the Cold War era.
The Civic Center and historic preservation
In January 2000, the City designated the Seaborg family home a "Culturally Significant Landmark." The home was later relocated along Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg Way, where it stands preserved for public purposes. The residence's exterior was remodeled as part of the relocation process, ensuring its continued presence in the community as a tangible connection to South Gate's most famous resident.
The Civic Center complex includes the Community Building, originally constructed as the South Gate Public Library (1941–1942) by architects Allen and Lutzi. The building's lobby features a tile mosaic titled "Evolution of Writing" by artist Stanton Macdonald-Wright, created under the Federal Art Project. Two murals depicting "contemporary work and leisure" by Arthur Prunier and Frank Howard Bowers were commissioned by the WPA's Federal Art Project. The Civic Center Museum displays the first and last tires produced at the historic Firestone plant, alongside the WPA-era mosaic. The Museum & Art Gallery offers public hours Tuesday (10am–1pm) and Thursday (3:30pm–5:30pm), providing access to the city's cultural collections.
Insurance connection: Earthquake coverage considerations
Historic structures like the Seaborg House should carry earthquake protection. Standard homeowners policies do not cover earthquake damage except resulting fire. Earthquake coverage is purchased separately. The California Earthquake Authority offers deductibles from 5% to 25% of coverage, with 15% minimum on homes over $1 million or older unretrofitted homes. CEA personal-property coverage ranges from $5,000 to $25,000. Any insurer selling homeowners insurance in California must offer earthquake coverage and renew it every two years. State law requires homeowners insurance to cover fire damage from earthquake, regardless of separate coverage. Eligibility and limits depend on individual policies. The issued policy controls.
Primary sources: Wikipedia Seaborg Home article, Wikipedia Glenn T. Seaborg biography, Living New Deal WPA City Hall record, and Pacific Coast Architecture Database.
Insurance context is general information only. The issued policy and its endorsements settle coverage.