The City San Francisco: Winchester Mystery House

The House of Many Rooms

The Mystery House in San Jose

Any time the word mystery is associated with a place or an event, I have to see it. I remember driving on Winchester Avenue in San Jose several times during the past several months and passing by this enormous house that seemed to stick out oddly from a busy street, next to the old Century Theaters and across the street from the bustling Santana Row. In front of the house was a large sign that read, The Winchester Mystery House. What is that I wondered? I vaguely remember reading that this house had a large number of little tiny rooms all haphazardly situated like a labyrinth of sorts, may be haunted and a very short old lady once lived there. Wow….I was intrigued!

Overlooking the Central Courtyard

The Winchester Mystery House is located approximately 50 miles south of San Francisco at 525 South Winchester Boulevard in San Jose. When I arrived parking clearly was not a problem and it was free. It was a huge lot with plenty of space. After I parked my car, I anxiously walked through the front entrance, entered into a fairly large gift shop and made my way to the front counter and paid for my tour. My entrance fee for the Mansion tour was $30.00 per person and started at 4pm. If you arrive early can enjoy the gift shop, eat at the café, visit the Products Museum, the Winchester Firearms Museum or merely enjoy the Central Courtyard until it is time for your tour to begin. There were other tours available including a self-guided Victorian Garden tour and the Behind-the-Scenes tour but unfortunately I didn’t have the time to enjoy these tours.

Family Tree

Although I didn’t pay for the Victorian Garden tour I did catch a small glimpse of it while waiting in the Central Courtyard. Within the courtyard you’ll also find an arcade and the restrooms. If you decide to do the Victorian Garden tour in conjunction with another tour, I suggest you do it last because there are no speakers in this area to hear the tour guide announce your tour.

Central Courtyard

When my tour began there were only three other couples, I was surprised but also pleased. With camera in hand I was ready to explore, however as I entered into the meeting area, my Tour Guide quickly read the house rules and told us all that there was no photography or videos allowed. Unfortunately I was forced to put my camera away. As we stood there in the foyer our tour guide began to tell us the story of the Mystery House. He spoke of a time in 1884 when Sara Winchester, the window of the late William Wirt Winchester of Winchester Rifles bought an old farm house in the Santa Clara Valley. The stories that led up to the eccentric yet continuous construction were simply fascinating. We were led room-by-room listening to an enigmatic script coupled with trivia about the house. I must admit, having a good tour guide makes the experience much more enjoyable.

The Firearms Museum

The house is intriguing and the history very interesting. Being sensitive to my surroundings I found myself feeling a sense of eeriness and in some locations I felt the essence of a cold dank presence upon me. Later when the tour was over, I privately asked the tour guide if a tragedy occurred within the house, as on two separate locations I felt something. He told me that although they are discouraged in discussing this event, recently someone broke into the house and committed suicide on one of the upper floors of the mansion. Who knows if this is true or not but it sure added to the overall experience. Although I wasn’t allowed to take pictures inside the mansion, I found another blog written by a tour guide who once worked at the Mystery House which gives a complete depiction of the story behind Sara Winchester and the Mystery House. I recommend that you read it as it gives you an accounting of each room and the stories and activities that took place. You can find it at: http://mysteryhouseguide.com/