Winchester House
historic place
The Winchester House, a historic place in San Jose, California, Santa Clara County, was the residence of Sarah Winchester. She was the widow of William Wirt Winchester, heir to the Winchester Repeating Arms fortune. Construction on this Victorian mansion began in 1884. Building continued for 38 years, stopping only with Sarah Winchester's death in 1922. What began as an eight-room farmhouse expanded into a 160-room mansion, covering six acres. The house is known for its architectural curiosities, such as doors opening to walls and stairways leading to ceilings. A historical marker for the site was erected in 1974. The Winchester House stands as a notable example of continuous, owner-directed architectural development.