The Winchester Mystery House
A peculiar mansion built by the troubled Winchester widowA bizarre mansion built by Sarah Winchester, the heir to the rifle fortune, this 160-room estate abounds with architectural oddities. Originally seven stories, now only four the 1906 earthquake, the mansion was built by Mrs. Winchester after the untimely deaths of her husband and child. She said she was also haunted by the spirits of those killed by the Winchester rifle. Mrs. Winchester had her team of carpenters work ceaselessly for 38 years, building peculiar items such as stairs that led to nowhere and rooms that trap you inside them. All were built in an effort by Mrs. Winchester to keep her spirit tormentors at bay. A particularly odd delight is a cabinet that when opened extends through thirty rooms of the house.
A Mansion Tour, Garden Tour and "Behind the Scenes" tour are all available. (Behind the scenes tour not available for children under 9.) There are also Flashlight Tours on special dates. The Winchester Antiques Products Museum and the Winchester Firearms Museum are also housed nearby.
Read more about The Winchester Mystery House on Atlas Obscura...
Category: Follies and Grottoes, Outsider Architecture
Location:
Edited by: Dylan, Henry, pierrejacques, Rachel