Atkinson House, Rutherford, California
historic place
The Atkinson House in Rutherford, Napa County, California, was built in 1881. Brothers Louis and Joseph Atkinson, shirtmakers, purchased 153 acres here that year. They planted grapevines and constructed this Queen Anne-style home. It served as the main residence for the Ewer and Atkinson Winery, established in 1881. Their wines won awards at the 1888 state Viticulture Convention and the 1889 World's Fair in Paris. The Atkinson House is significant for its association with Napa Valley's "Golden Age of Wine" in the 1880s. It also exemplifies rural Queen Anne architecture. By the 1890s, phylloxera destroyed the vineyards, leading to financial difficulties and the property's sale in 1901. Today, the Atkinson House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It remains a preserved example of the region's early wine industry and architectural heritage.