Atherton House
historic place
The Atherton House, a historic San Francisco landmark, is located at 1990 California Street in the Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood. It was constructed in 1881 for Dominga de Goñi Atherton, widow of prominent merchant Faxon D. Atherton. The house displays an eclectic Queen Anne and Stick/Eastlake architectural style, reflecting opulent late 19th-century San Francisco residences. It notably survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. In 1923, the mansion was remodeled into thirteen apartments. The Atherton House was designated a California Historical Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Local stories recount alleged hauntings within its walls. These tales often involve George Atherton, Dominga's son, whose body was reportedly returned to the house in a barrel of rum after his death at sea in 1887. This structure is a significant example of the city's late 19th-century residential architecture and its connection to early California pioneer families.