The city of Eureka, on the northern California coast, is known for its historic Old Town which features Victorian era architecture. The city’s star attraction is the Carson Mansion, one of the most photographed Victorian homes in the United States, with its memorable towers and turrets, fine gingerbread detail, etc.
The home was built by redwood lumber magnate William Carson. It was designed by San Francisco architects, the Newsom Brothers, who were tasked with creating a family home that reflected Mr. Carson’s business success. The home was constructed in 1884 and kept 100 of Mr. Carson’s workers employed for 2 years during a slump in the timber industry. It’s 4 stories tall and built with a lot of redwood, as well as other exotic woods, stained glass, onyx, etc.
The Carson Mansion was owned by the descendants of Mr. Carson until 1950, when it was sold to the Ingomar Club, a private group. The Mansion is still privately owned and is not available for public entry. The Ingomar Club exists primarily to restore and maintain this incredible gem. There are no tours of the interior, although it is said to be meticulously maintained. However, visitors are welcome to view the outside of the mansion and take photos from the sidewalk, as we did.
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Fantastic, love this style of architecture. Pity you can’t visit inside.