Historic House Museums in California

Designed by architect Albert Austin Bennett, the Queen Anne Cottage and Coach Barn were built for Elias J. Baldwin, a businessman in 1885, 1880 respectively. Painted red and white the buildings are listed together on the National Register as remarkable examples of Victorian architecture as well as the surrounding landscape which is a rare remnant Victorian landscape in Southern California.

The historic Bernhard Museum Complex has seen over 150 years of history roll by. The structure was built in 1851 by George Bishop and John Long as the Traveler's Rest Hotel and is one of Auburn's oldest surviving buildings. During the Gold Rush this rustic establishment hosted teamsters traveling the old Auburn Folsom Road and miners who were working in nearby Rich Flat

Ralston Hall Mansion was the country estate of William Chapman Ralston, a prominent and powerful San Francisco financier who founded the Bank of California. Purchasing the property from an Italian nobleman in 1864, Ralston began construction of an increasingly grand mansion, ultimately comprising over 80 rooms. He called his estate "Belmont," a name that was subsequently adopted by the adjacent village.

The house was orginally a hotel on another site in town and after extensive fire damage, Joseph and Catherine Fischer moved and remodeled the building for their home in 1856. The house was occupied by successive generations of the family until it was donated to the State of California in 1969. It has been restored as a completely furnished home representative of middle-class living in the late 1800's in Benicia.

Bodie State Historic Park is a genuine California gold-mining ghost town. Visitors can walk down the deserted streets of a town that once had a population of nearly 10,000 people. The town is named for Waterman S. Body (William Bodey), who had discovered small amounts of gold in hills north of Mono Lake. In 1875, a mine cave-in revealed pay dirt, which led to purchase of the mine by the Standard Company in 1877. People flocked to Bodie and transformed it from a town of a few dozen to a boomtown.

L.A. Historic Cultural Monument # 1. Built in the Monterey style in the 1840's, it was occupied by Miguel Leonis as early as the 1870's, one of the most colorful, influential and prominent figures of early Los Angeles. Also on the grounds is an barn built in 1912 as well as the Plummer House known as the "oldest house in Hollywood".

The Camarillo Ranch was originally a 10,000 acre Spanish land grant created in 1837, patented to Gabriel Ruiz in 1866, then purchased by Juan Camarillo in 1875. His son Adolfo built the Queen Anne Victorian home in 1892. Later the barn and stables were added to support the agricultural work and house the renowned Camarillo White Horses. Today the ranch is owned by the City of Camarillo and operated by the non profit Camarillo Ranch Foundation.

The Ainsley House - Beautifully restored in an enchanting park-like setting, the English Tudor style architecture of the Ainsley House transports the visitor to the bygone era of the 1920s. Built in 1925 as the home for Campbell canning pioneer J.C. Ainsley and his wife Alcinda, the home was moved to its present location in 1990. The exquisitely restored and decorated 15 rooms are furnished with much of the original furniture of the era when it was one of the grand homes of the Santa Clara Valley. The surrounding English gardens are a refreshing respite for the visitor to this unique historic house.

Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park is a beautiful, three-story, 26 room Victorian House Museum that stands as a memorial to John and Annie Bidwell. John Bidwell was known throughout California and across the nation as an important pioneer, farmer, soldier, statesman, politician and philanthropist. Annie Ellicott Kennedy Bidwell, the daughter of a socially prominent, high ranking Washington official, was deeply religious, and committed to a number of moral and social causes. Annie was very active in the suffrage and prohibition movements.

Hidden in the green oasis of Grapevine Canyon in far northern Death Valley, the Death Valley Ranch, or Scotty's Castle as it is more commonly known, is a window into the life and times of the Roaring 20's and Depression 30's. It was and is an engineer's dream home, a wealthy matron's vacation home and a man-of-mystery's hideout and getaway. Walter Scott, Death Valley Scotty, convinced everyone that he had built the castle with money from his rich secret mines in the area. Albert Mussey Johnson actually built the house as a vacation getaway for himself and his wife Bessie.

In August 1908 Colonel Allen Allensworth and four other settlers established a town founded, financed and governed by African Americans. Their dream of developing an abundant and thriving community stemmed directly from a strong belief in programs that allowed blacks to help themselves create better lives. By 1910 Allensworth’s success was the focus of many national newspaper articles praising the town and its inhabitants.

Located in the San Fernando Valley, this California rancho includes the original nine-room de la Ossa Adobe, the two-story limestone Garnier building, a blacksmith shop, a natural spring, and a pond.

Established in 1976, the History Center includes buildings from Escondido's early development that were relocated to Grape Day Park.

Gold Rush pioneers Joseph and Zipporah built Fern Cottage as their family home in 1866. Family members lived in it continuously for over a century. Today, it is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the few homes in California containing the original family furniture and furnishings. Visit Fern Cottage and step back in time to the late Victorian era.

A visit to Ardenwood is a journey back to the time of the Patterson Ranch - a prosperous, 19th-century country estate including a beautiful mansion and its elaborate Victorian Gardens. Today the Historic Farm exhibits agricultural practices from the 1870s to the present, demonstrating the transition from horse-powered to horsepower.

The Meux Home is a beautiful Queen Anne Victorian, built in 1888, which still retains original fretwork, chandeliers, fireplaces and mantels, etc. since the youngest daughter lived there over 80 years.

Empire Mine State Historic Park is the site of one of the oldest, largest, deepest, longest and richest gold mines in California. The park is in Grass Valley at 10791 East Empire Street. In existence for more than 100 years, the mine produced 5.6 million ounces of gold before it closed in 1956. (5.6 million ounces of gold is equivalent to a box seven feet long, seven feet high, and seven feet deep filled with gold.) The park contains many of the mine’s buildings, the owner’s home and restored gardens, as well as the entrance to 367 miles (the distance, as the crow flies, from Grass Valley to Magic Mountain) of abandoned and flooded mine shafts. The park consists of forested backcountry and eight miles of trails – including easy hikes (for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding) - in the park.

The McConaghy family built their 12-room farmhouse, tank house and carriage house in 1886. Tours of the house offer visitors a fun and informative environment to learn more about what life was like for farming families during the Victorian period.

The Newland House Museum is the oldest residence built in the city of Huntington Beach and is maintained by the Huntington Beach Historical Society for all to see.

eritage Hill Historical Park is composed of 4.1 acres, four historic buildings and associated structures for maintenance and public restrooms. The fully restored and furnished historic buildings span the early history of the Saddleback Valley and El Toro area from the Mexican Rancho era (Serrano Adobe, circa 1863), to the founding of the town of El Toro (El Toro Grammar School, 1890; St. George's Episcopal Mission, 1891), through the citrus farming days of the early twentieth century (Harvey Bennett Ranch House, 1908).

Bembridge House is a Queen Anne Victorian house that was built in 1906. It has 18 rooms, and has been preserved with its original high ceilings, woodwork, and many of the original furishings.[2] It is considered the most ornate Victorian residence in Long Beach with hand-carved woodwork, stained and leaded glass, and a tiled fireplace.

The Grier Musser Museum is a turn-of-the century historic Queen Anne house which displays fascinating antique collections in monthly holiday exhibits throughout the year.

This classic Malibu home was built in 1930 for Rhoda Rindge Adamson and her husband, Merritt Huntley Adamson. The house shares its location with one of the most beautiful beaches in Southern California.

The 1883 house is furnished as it was in the late 19th century when it was the home of John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club.

The house was a creative adaptation of the Gothic Revival style, designed by one of early Marysville’s principal architects and prominent inventors, Warren P. Miller. Miller remained in the house from the time of its construction in 1855-56, until 1863 when it was purchased by Edgar Woodrow, a Marysville carpenter. It remained in this ownership until January 16, 1875 when William Latham purchased the property, apparently as part of its transfer to Francis William Aaron. The Francis Aaron family with its new son purchased it the same day and moved in. Both generations of this family were also significant to the development of the community, and occupied or owned the property until it was left to the City of Marysville upon the death of its last member, Charles Francis Aaron, in memory of his mother Mary. The house has remained n the ownership of the City of Marysville since that time, serving as a focus for the appreciation of the important heritage of Marysville and Yuba County through educational exhibits, programs, and visitation as a house museum.

The Kelley House Museum is an historic house museum in the heart of Mendocino, California, a picturesque town of 1,000 people. The home was built in 1861 by William Kelly (sp), one of Mendocino’s founding fathers, and now contains 19th Century furniture.

The McHenry Mansion, built in 1883 by Robert McHenry, prominent local rancher/banker, is a fine example of the Victorian Italianate style of architecture. In 1923, it was converted into apartments and remained as such until 1976 when the Julio R. Gallo Foundation purchased it and donated it to the City of Modesto for restoration and for community use. The Mansion is decorated and furnished with antiques appropriate to the period when Robert and his wife, Matilda inhabited the Mansion (1883-1896).

Monterey State Historic Park is a collection of significant historic houses and buildings interspersed throughout Old Monterey. The inside of the Stevenson House, Larkin House, Cooper-Molera Adobe, and Casa Soberanes can ONLY be viewed with a State Park Guide. These four guided house tours, the Guided Walking Tour of Old Monterey, the Pacific House Museum and Custom House are all FREE. Guided Walking Tours begin at the Pacific House Museum in Custom House Plaza – a great way to start your discovery of Monterey.

The Rengstorff House is Mountain View's oldest historic house. It is one of the finest examples of Victorian Italianate architecture on the west coast.

Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park recaptures the flavor of 19th Century life in the Sierra Nevada foothills and mountains of Central California. Eastern Madera County is the southern end of the historic Mother Lode gold fields, but the people who settled here came not so much for gold but more to build their lives and raise their families, making their living as farmers, merchants and using the rich natural resources of the mountains.

The Camron-Stanford House was built in 1876, the first of many stately homes that once encircled the Lake. During 27 years as a private residence, it was the home of some of Oakland’s most notable families.

Although now over 150 years old, only two generations have lived in this house. Much of the original furnishings are on display to help tell the story of how the well-to-do lived “out west.� The collection includes antique furnishings, paintings, rugs, textiles, clothes, silver, and glassware from the period 1849-1910. A tour of the house reveals stories of the Lott family and their importance to early California (the Judge was also a State Senator). It also retells his daughter, Cornelia’s, love story with Jesse Sank and their eventual happiness. The house contains some unusual features, including the surprise built into the fireplace and an art-deco bathroom.

The Museum is housed in the historic residence of Dr. Thomas Williams, a prominent Palo Alto physician. Designed by noted Bay Area architect Ernest Coxhead, this English County Style home, completed in 1907, features classic Craftsman interiors utilizing native materials and an open floor plan. A large craftsman style garage was built a few years later. One wing of the home is designed as a doctor's waiting room, office, and examining room. Although Dr. Williams began his medical practice in this wing, he soon moved his office to downtown Palo Alto. Subsequently, he was joined by other physicians and they eventually formed the nucleus of the Palo Alto Medical Clinic.

Thanks to an extraordinary family legacy, the splendid Mansion on Pasadena's famed "Millionaire's Row," once home to Museum benefactors Dr. Adalbert and Eva Fenyes, is today the crown jewel among the Pasadena Museum of History's many treasures.

Built in 1891, it is one of the few houses of that era that has not undergone remodeling. It has the mansard roof construction, which makes the house unique in its style of architecture.

The Rancho San Pedro is the site of the First Spanish land grant in California. The land was granted in 1784 by King Carlos III to Juan Jose Dominguez, a retired Spanish soldier who came to California with the Portola expedition and later with Father Juniperro Serra. The original land grant encompassed 75,000 acres, including the entire Los Angeles harbor. The land has passed through successive generations and remains in the Dominguez family. Today, the descendants operate the Watson Land Company and the Carson Estates Company on the original Rancho land.

Board and Batten house built for the station master and stage agent for Yosemite Stage and Southern Pacific Railroad, Charles Miller. The home is listed as a California Point of Historic Interest and contains all local historical items from photographs to artifacts relating to Yosemite travel, ranching, local granite quarries, the early railroad and the house's history. Also of interest is the cellar, supported by columns of the local granite and a caboose being restored on the grounds as well as a doctor's buggy and a railroad baggage wagon.

Kimberly Crest, a picturesque French chateau style home built in 1897. The 7,000 square foot, three-story chateau sits on a six and one quarter acre estate.

One of the Peninsula’s oldest mansions, Lathrop House is an architectural treasure built in 1863 by San Mateo County’s first assessor-clerk-recorder and chairman of the Board of Supervisors, a man who later helped found the Southern Pacific Railroad and owner of a large tract of land in the Menlo Park area.

The park pays tribute to the citrus industry and features a grove of orange trees.

California’s executive mansion, popularly known at the Governor’s Mansion, was built in 1877 for Albert and Clemenza Gallatin. Albert was a partner in the Sacramento hardware store of Huntington & Hopkins. The State of California purchased the house from Joseph and Louisa Steffens to use as a home for California’s first families in 1903 for $32,500. Victorian architecture was somewhat out of style by then, but the house was suitably impressive, conveniently located, and comfortable.

The George and Anna Marston House Museum & Gardens is a beautiful estate that has the main house museum, formal gardens, canyon gardens, planned cultural landscape and museum store in the Carriage House. Listed as one of the top 25 Arts and Crafts buildings in the United States by Style 1900 magazine.

The exuberant Haas-Lilienthal House is a Queen Anne-style Victorian, and was completed in 1886. It is the only intact private home of the period that is open regularly as a museum, complete with authentic furniture and artifacts. The House has elaborate wooden gables, a circular corner tower and luxuriant ornamentation.

With 27 original and reproduction homes, businesses and landmarks History Park highlights Santa Clara Valley's past. Complete with paved streets, running trolleys and a cafe, this 14-acre site has the charm and ambiance of times gone by. The VPA's project, the Hill House, can be toured.

The park includes several structures built in the 1800s. The four main historic museums are the Plaza Hotel, the Zanetta House/Plaza Hall, the Plaza Stables, and the newly reopened Castro-Breen Adobe. Many of the interiors are arranged as furnished vignettes or with colorful and informative exhibits that help create a unique learning environment for people of all ages. The park also features a blacksmith shop, the historic jail, and an early American settler’s cabin.

In 1997, Ruth Quayle Boone bequeathed the 16-acre Boone family farm known as Forest Home Farms to the City of San Ramon for use as a municipal historic park in memory of her husband, Travis Moore Boone. The 16-acre farm is located at the base of the East Bay Hills and Oak Creek divides it in two almost equal parts. The southern portion of the property is home to the Glass House Museum, a Victorian style home and its tank house built in 1877. The Glass House is a two-story, wood frame dwelling with a one-story rear wing. The tank house, somewhat modified from historic condition, is a two-story, wood-frame structure that is probably slightly later in date than the house. The Glass House has recently been restored to its original beauty and is open for tours and a Vicotrian Life education program

William Randolph Hearst hired Julia Morgan to build him a little something. They ended up with a mansion that has 165 rooms filled with magnificent artwork and furniture. The estate has 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways. Several different tours are available. Take them all!

Fernald Mansion & Trussell-Winchester Adobe are currently closed for restoration.

It is the last farm site in the city of Santa Clara and is named for the two families who owned and lived on the property for 125 years. The museum consists of the house, a classic California barn, summer kitchen, tank house and landscaped gardens. The house was built in 1865 in the Italianate style — balanced and symmetrical. In the 1890’s it was extensively enlarged and remodeled, changing the symmetry of the original design. It is fully furnished, most of the furniture and contents having belonged to the Lass family.

Luther Burbank was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, on March 7, 1849. In California, his birthday is celebrated as Arbor Day and trees are planted in his memory. The famed horticulturist made his home in Santa Rosa for more than 50 years and it was here that he conducted plant-breeding experiments that brought him world renown.

This pioneer cottage was built in the 1850's and is one of the oldest homes in Saratoga. Built by blacksmith Henry Jarboe, the house was sold to another blacksmith, James McWilliams in 1864. The house is made of local redwood using single-wall construction; there are no studs.

In 1850 General Vallejo, now an elected State Senator, purchased some acreage at the foot of the hills, one-half mile west and north of Sonoma’s central plaza. The land surrounded a fine, free- flowing spring that the Indians had called Chiucuyem (tears of the mountain). Vallejo retained this name for his new estate, but translated it into Latin, Lachryma Montis.

In 1897, San Francisco businessman I. W. Hellman began buying property at Sugar Pine Point and by 1913 had acquired nearly 2000 acres. His grand but informal summer home, called Pine Lodge, was completed in 1903 and was considered to be one of the finest in the high Sierra. His daughter, Florence Hellman Ehrman inherited the estate and she and her husband Sydney spent many summers here entertaining family and friends.

Displays of historic diaries, photographs, periodicals, clothing and other items are featured in this house. Framed in solid oak, the house features finely crafted woodwork, stairways, and fireplaces.

Built by Walnut Creek pioneer Hiram Penniman (1824-1907), the main house on the Shadelands Ranch grounds is a 1903 Redwoood-framed Colonial Revival structure that now showcases numerous historical artifacts, many of which belonged to the Pennimans. It also houses a rich archive of Contra Costa and Walnut Creek history in its collections of old newspapers, photographs, and government records.

The 23-room residence remains the finest example of domestic Greek Revival architecture in Southern California. The house interiors have been carefully restored to their Victorian beauty, and 18 rooms are open to the public.

Recognized as one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th century, Filoli welcomes the public to this remarkable 654-acre property, including the 36,000 sq. ft Georgian country house and spectacular 16-acre English Renaissance garden. Filoli is a historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.