One has to see to believe the beauty and mystery of this amazing 160 room Victorian mansion known as "Winchester Mystery House". For some it is a Bizarre, strange, haunted and mysterious house whereas some believe that it is a masterpiece, beautiful, massive and that it is impossible to find another piece of architecture like the Winchester Mansion. It got its name from the strange and unexplained oddities that are throughout the Winchester mansion. Unlike most homes of the 1880's, the Winchester Mystery House had been built according to the modern era, it had modern heating, push button gas lights, 3 hydraulic elevators and 47 fireplaces. Everything right from the red roofs to Tiffany art glass windows and chandeliers made of gold and silver will leave you wondering about the creativity and expense with which each and every part has been made up of.
The
Winchester Mystery House was built by widow named Sarah Winchester, the
only heiress to the Winchester Rifle Fortune. Sarah Winchester had a lot of
wealth but was a very lonely lady after the death of her infant daughter and
then her husband. It is a popular belief that grieved by the death of her
beloved, she went to a psychic who told her that her family had been cursed
because the Winchester Rifles had taken too many lives. She was also told by the
psychic that the only way to get rid of the curse was to leave her home in
Connecticut and to move westward towards the setting sun. The Psychic also told
her to build a massive mansion to appease the spirits of the dead, the
construction of witch must go on as long as she lived, else she would die.
As a result Sarah Winchester moved to California and bought a farm house and
started a construction in 1884 that went on round the clock, 24 hours a
day and 7 days a week for 38 years till she died on September 5, 1922. She
built, rebuilt, altered, changed, constructed and demolished one section after
another. It is believed that Mrs. Winchester got instructions from the spirits
about the design and layout of the building which she followed. Winchester Mystery House is truly mysterious with doors opening into walls, staircases that reach the ceiling with no outlet, cupboards that are only half an inch deep, floor with a window in it, a chimney that rises four floors, upside down posts and many more weird layouts. In the courtyard there is a hedge shaped like a crescent moon, mysteriously, the hedge points to the bedroom where Mrs. Winchester died. Mrs. Winchester also seems to have been obsessed with number 13 and her obsession is visible throughout the mansion. There are windows with 13 panes, walls with 13 panels and even drains with 13 holes in them. In the 13th bathroom there are thirteen windows and the grand staircase has 13 steps. She also seemed to have a obsession towards numbers 7 and 11. There is a staircase that has 7 steps downwards and 11 steps upwards. There's another staircase that turns 7 times and has 44 steps but moves up only by 9 feet. Winchester Mystery House will leave you wondering was Mrs. Winchester weird? compulsive? possessed? or simply crazy? Whatever she was but she left behind a masterpiece that is today a very popular tourist attraction in San Jose.
Guided tours of Winchester Mystery House are available that will take you through more than 100 rooms with Bizarre and unusual architecture. You can also go for "Behind The Scenes Tour" that explains the Victorian architectural principles that guided construction and describes how the Winchester Mystery House once functioned. It also takes you to the areas which remained unexplored for several years. Children under 9 are not allowed to this tour for safety purposes. Also "The Garden Tour" will take u around the beautiful Victorian Gardens that surround the Winchester Mystery House. You can book your tickets online or get them at the spot.
Winchester Museums:
You must visit the Winchester Firearms Museum and the Winchester Products Antique Museum on the grounds. Winchester Firearms Museum consists of a large collection of the Winchester Rifles with "Gun that Won the West" being the main attraction of this museum. Winchester Products Antique Museum consists of a rare collection of antique products that were manufactured by the Winchester Products company. It displays a collection of Winchester flashlights, cutlery, lawn mowers, roller skates, choppers, electric irons and much more.
Winchester Cafe:
The Winchester Cafe is open daily and has a nice relaxed atmosphere to enjoy quick snacks, deserts and beverages.
Winchester Gift Shop:
The Gift Shop has many unusual objects for purchase and great souvenirs to take back home for family and friends.
Address:
525 South Winchester Boulevard
San Jose, CA 95128
Hours:
9am-5pm Sun-Thu; 9am-7pm Fri-Sat
