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Offbeat Homes

The Winchester Mystery House

by Ingrid on September 28th, 2006

The Winchester Mystery House is a 160-room, once-7 story mansion built by a grieving widow. For thirty-eight continuous years Sarah Winchester commanded construction of this house, led by a spiritual medium to believe that if she stopped construction she would be afflicted by the family curse that had struck her husband and child.

 

In 1884, Sarah reached Santa Clara Valley in California and began funding the endless construction of her new home. As time progressed, the house grew bigger and bigger and bigger, reaching 7 stories in 1906.

Obsessed with the number 13, the home features 13 panes of glass, 13-panelled walls, 13 cupolas in the greenhouse, and 13-sectioned floors. And all staircases but one had 13 steps.

All of this was constructed in order to appease the spirits that Sarah was told wished vengeance on her for her ancestors’ misdeeds.

In 1906, the great San Francisco Earthquake struck, and parts of the Winchester Mansion fell to ruins. The top three floors fell into the garden and were never reconstructed.

On September 4th, 1922, after a seance, Sarah went to bed and never woke up.

These days, the house is a California Historical Landmark and is a hot spot for lovers of paranormal activity.

Did anyone read Stephen King’s Rose Red? Because I swear it must be based on this.

Via | Winchester Mystery House

POSTED IN: Eccentricities, Historical Architecture, Owner Built

5 opinions for The Winchester Mystery House

  • Del Props
    Jan 8, 2007 at 11:49 pm

    This house is really a must see if in the Bay area.

  • Shannon
    Oct 13, 2007 at 9:05 pm

    Yeah I have seen Stephen King’s Rose Red and it based on the Winchester House. I definitely want to visit the house some day. I think it would be a great experience. Plus I love anything that has to do with haunted happenings.

  • Heather Winchester
    Jan 14, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    I want to learn as much about my last name as i possible can. I have researched this house so many times, I hope that one year I can visit it.

  • Kara Smith
    May 12, 2008 at 11:11 am

    This mansion is soooo big!! I went to visit it and i could not believe how big and mysterious it was!!! I loved it!!!! If you ever get a chance to go there and visit it take that chance!! You will be amazed!!!!!!!

  • Colleen Crispin
    Jun 13, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    I think this web site is awesome and I find It very interesting also my boyfriend is the one who told me about the website but things like this interest me.

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