Villa Montezuma
historic place
The Villa Montezuma, a historic place in San Diego County, California, was erected in 1887. This Queen Anne-style mansion, located at 1925 K Street in the Sherman Heights Historic District, was designed by the architectural firm of N.A. Comstock and Carl Trotsche. It was built for Jesse Shepard, also known as Francis Grierson, a world-famous pianist, author, and spiritualist. Shepard was persuaded to relocate to San Diego by wealthy ranchers William and John High, who were part of a spiritualist group. The Villa Montezuma served as Shepard's home, where he hosted concerts and séances. The house exemplifies the high style of living of its original owner and is a notable example of late 19th-century Queen Anne architecture. The City of San Diego owns the Villa Montezuma, and it opened as a museum in November 1972. It remains a significant landmark, reflecting San Diego's Victorian past.