Feusier Octagon House
historic place
The Feusier Octagon House, located in San Francisco's Russian Hill, is a distinctive historic place. It was constructed circa 1857 to 1858 by George Kenny. This eight-sided design was inspired by Orson Squire Fowler's mid-19th-century book, "A Home for All; or, the Gravel Wall and the Octagon Mode of Building," which promoted octagonal architecture for its perceived benefits. San Francisco businessman Louis Feusier acquired the house in 1875. The Feusier family owned the property for over 80 years, selling it in 1954. During their ownership, in the 1880s, a third story with a Mansard roof and an octagonal cupola was added. The Feusier Octagon House notably survived the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. It is one of only two remaining octagonal houses in San Francisco. The house was designated a San Francisco Landmark on October 1, 1970, and added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 24, 1974. It stands as a physical example of a unique 19th-century architectural trend in the city.