The Winchester Mystery House is a Victorian mansion at 525 South Winchester Boulevard in San Jose and a California State Historical Landmark. Sarah Winchester, widow of William Wirt Winchester of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, kept building on an eight-room farmhouse from 1886 until her death in 1922. The result has 160 rooms, stairs that lead nowhere and doors that open onto walls. Guided tours explain the history and the design, and the grounds include gardens and a greenhouse.
Sarah Winchester and the house
Sarah Winchester was the widow of William Wirt Winchester, whose family owned the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and its rifles. William died in 1881. Sarah lost her husband and an infant daughter, and in 1886 she left Connecticut for San Jose.
She bought an eight-room farmhouse there and began to add to it. Building continued until her death in 1922, so the house grew for close to four decades, paid for with her share of the rifle fortune.
The result is a Victorian house with Queen Anne features, and it also shows Gothic and Art Nouveau touches. Gables, chimneys, conical towers and a tiled exterior crowd together. The woodwork is ornate, and stained glass appears in several rooms.
What the tour covers
Guided tours move through the rooms in groups. Guides explain the history of the house and the design choices that look odd today.
Expect doors that open onto walls, a window built into a floor, and staircases that rise into a ceiling or end at a cabinet door. Some doors open onto a drop of about 15 feet into an outdoor garden.
Legend has it that a medium told Sarah the spirits of people killed by Winchester rifles would haunt her if she stopped building. That story is the origin of the house's reputation for being haunted.
The attic and basement tour
The attic and basement are an add-on with a separate fee per person. They are not part of the standard tour.
This tour includes ghost-hunting devices such as EMF readers and a spirit box. Equipment can be borrowed for an independent search of the rooms.
Some areas of the house are closed to the public, including original wood floors and carpets in rooms on the tour. Keep to the path and follow the guide's directions.
Grounds, events and practical notes
The grounds include gardens, a garage, a stable and a greenhouse. Sarah's personal garden is part of the landscaping, and some visitors find the outbuildings as interesting as the mansion.
Seasonal programs run through the year. Torchlight tours take place on Friday the 13th and at Halloween. A candlelit tour runs on Saturday nights in season, and the house is decorated for Christmas.
The mansion is also a wedding venue, and its front gardens and greenhouse are used for ceremonies. A cafe and a restaurant are on site, and the gift shop has a history room. The parking lot is free, and the entrance, restroom and parking are wheelchair accessible.
Perguntas frequentes
Is there an entry fee?
Yes. Admission is charged, and the attic and basement tours cost an extra fee per person.
Do I need to book in advance?
Advance tickets are recommended and reservations are encouraged. Walk-ins are also welcome.
How long do you need?
Plan several hours to tour the house, then add time to walk around the grounds.
Is the site wheelchair accessible?
The entrance, restroom and parking lot are wheelchair accessible.
