Carson Mansion in California 2024-2025
The most famous Victorian home on the West Coast
Best time: all year round
The Carson Mansion, located in the heart of Eureka, California, is considered to be one of the best examples of American Queen Anne architecture. It is often described as the greatest Victorian home in America. Some sources claim that it's the most photographed house in the US.
The house was built for William Carson, one of California's lumber barons. The architects who designed the mansion were Samuel and Joseph Newsom from San Francisco. The house was made primarily of redwood, 97,000 feet of white mahogany from Central America and onyx from East India, Mexico and the Philippines. It took more than 100 men over two years to build it.
In 1950, the Carson family sold the house to the private Ingomar Club which does not allow indoor tours. Only the lucky guests of the club can see the beautiful stained glass designs, plasterwork, and carved ornaments.
