Bradford House, San Rafael
historic place
The Bradford House, a historic place in San Rafael, Marin County, stands at 333 G Street. This two-and-a-half-story mansion was built in 1883 for William Bushnell Bradford and his wife, Pauline. William Bradford was a prominent San Francisco merchant, involved in the fish packing and canning business, and a direct descendant of Massachusetts' first governor. He moved his family to San Rafael, reportedly believing it would help his asthma. The house is an exceptional example of the Stick/Eastlake architectural style, an elaborate building tradition popular in the region during the 1880s. It features redwood construction, an asymmetrical plan, and a steep, complex roofline. Its original foundation bricks were notably made by San Quentin prison inmates in 1883. The Bradford House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. A historical marker, erected in 2010, commemorates its 1883 construction and its restoration by the Loder family around 2010. This structure offers a significant look into late 19th-century residential architecture in San Rafael.