Constructed over nearly 40 years, the Winchester Mystery House is one of the most intriguing architectural masterpieces in the country, yet its story doesn’t end there. When the owner Sarah Winchester began a never-ending project to expand the home, stories of her obsession became rampant, leading to talk of ghosts and a prolonged public curiosity with the building. Today, the historic home is open to the public, giving you a chance to see the bizarre structure in person. Here’s a guide to help you on your visit.
The Background
Located at 525 South Winchester Blvd. in San Jose, the Winchester Mystery House was the creation of Sarah Winchester. As the heiress to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, Winchester moved to San Jose from Connecticut shortly after the death of her husband and child to build a new home. Legend has it that a medium channeling Sarah’s late husband told Sarah to build a home to ward off evil spirits who died at the hands of Winchester rifles.
Construction began in 1884 and, by some accounts, didn’t stop for the next 38 years. In total, the mansion has 160 rooms, 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors, two basements, and tons of architectural oddities.
Strange Additions
While parts of the home appear normal, other areas of the mansion are strange. To some historians, these places were built to ward off paranormal activity or hide Sarah from spirits. Some of the strange additions to the home include a door that opens to a 15-foot drop into the yard, a door with an 8-foot drop into a kitchen sink, a cabinet that goes through 30 rooms of the house, Tiffany-style windows that don’t get any sunlight, 47 fireplaces with just 17 chimneys, and several secret passages.
The number 13 and spiderweb-influenced architecture occur throughout the home as well and are said to have been some of Sarah’s preoccupations to keep away spirits.
In Film
In 2017, the filming of the movie “Winchester” starring Helen Mirren began in the Winchester Mystery House. Mirren plays Sarah Winchester, and the film depicts her life spent in efforts to escape the spirits of people who died at the hands of a Winchester gun. This loosely autobiographical film received mixed reviews, but the mansion as a backdrop provides a stunning visual spectacle.
The Tour
If you want to visit the mansion and get the most out of your trip, choose from one of four tour options. The basic mansion tour takes you through 110 of the home’s 160 rooms, including the seance room, Sarah’s bedroom, the $25,000 room, and more. Starting at $20, this ticket also offers admission to the gardens and two on-site museums. The Explore More Tour provides access to some areas of the home never before seen by the public.
The Halloween Candlelight Tour and the Friday the 13th Flashlight Tour are also excellent options for a bit of a thrill as you explore the home at night.
For an unforgettable visit to one of the country’s most interesting, elaborate, beautiful, and yet strange homes, make sure to schedule a visit to the Winchester Mystery House.
Photo by mindgrow | Licensed under cc BY-SA 2.0
Connect with us
