Housing Allowance

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Mrs. Winchester provided homes for many of her employees. This house belonged
to her building foreman, John Hanson, who lived her with his family.

Watch Your Step

This staircase has 7 turns and 144 steps. It connects the first floor with the second,
which means is rises about 9 feet.

The steps are about one and a half inches tall. Many of the staircases in the mansion
were converted to these short steps (called EZ Risers) as Mrs. Winchester's arthritis
worsened.

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Button Down

The control panel for the electric elevator, with buttons for an alarm,
an emergency stop, and three floors. The elevator became necessary after
Mrs. Winchester's arthritis confined her to a wheelchair.

Power Up

Electrical wiring was installed in 1919 to power this elevator motor.

Power was generated on the estate using calcium carbide gas.

Going Up

A view from the rear courtyard. The tower contains an elevator, and its completion
in 1919 probably marked the end of exterior construction on the mansion.

Extra Support

Another feature visible from the balcony is a flying buttress.
Flying buttresses were used to support thearched ceilings of gothic cathedrals.
It is unclear why this one was constructed, as it supports nothing.

Bellwether

The rear of the house as seen from the fourth floor balcony. Despite rumors that the bell was used
to summon spirits to nightly séances, it was primarily used to call the servants to meals.

Symbol Crashes

Some believe this window was designed by Mrs. Winchester. It depicts a spider's web with thirteen droplets of water.

There are many instances of spider webs and the number thirteen in the mansion, but the significance of this is uncertain.

Spider web windows such as these are common in Victorian houses, but did they have a special meaning for Mrs. Winchester.

Glass Houses

These windows and doors were in storage when Mrs. Winchester died, and are now valued
around $2.5 million. Some believe they contain Spiritualist symbolism.

Flower Power

Some people believe daisies had a special meaning to Mrs. Winchester,
but no one is certain. The flower is featured prominently throughout the mansion.

Window Unit

The bedroom is known as the Daisy Bedroom because of the stained glass windows.
The daisies are also a popular tattoo motif among female guides.

Count On It

This bedroom was actually several rooms, and had two fireplaces and a stove.
Counting the mansion's rooms is a challenge, but the official tally is one-hundred and sixty.

Falling Down

The fireplace collapsed to the first floor during the 1906 earthquake. Although many

areas were left unrepaired, much of the damage seen here is the result of later vandalism.

In and Out

These windows look down from the bedroom where Mrs. Winchester was trapped during the quake.
Below them is the door to an unfinished bathroom, accessible only from outside.

An interior view of the same windows. The glass door opens to a bathroom,
directly above the unfinished exterior bathroom.

Guest Not

Unfinished areas are also painted black. Mrs. Winchester planned to construct
additional guest rooms here, but changed her plans after the 1906 earthquake.

Paint It Black

This black area marks a chimney which fell in the 1906 earthquake.
Mrs. Winchester left much of the damage unrepaired.

An Open Door

The door to nowhere is difficult to spot on the tour route, and is never opened for tours.

The small building seen through the open door is an original gardener's toolshed.

A Significant Drop

Queen Anne houses became popular in the 1880s and pattern books were available.
Doors that opened to ten-foot drops were uncommon.

At Full Scale

Legend claims the house was planned by spirits. Decorative features such
as spires, finials and fish-scale shingles are in the Queen Anne style.

Building Up

Mrs. Winchester began construction in 1884. By 1900, the mansion was seven stories tall,
but remained incomplete.

At Eye Level

Statues such as Demeter were mass produced and common in Victorian gardens.

A Missing Piece

Hebe was cupbearer to the gods. The statue was damaged in the 1950s, and then lost.
She was recently discovered and restored. Here she lies in storage.

A Closer Look...

Originally Demeter stood on the right. The left pedestsal was occupied by Hebe,
the Greek goddess of youth. The statue was moved after Mrs. Winchester’s death.

At First Glance

The house is cheerful with its Queen Anne features and yellow paint. The statue depicts the goddess Demeter,
whose daughter was kidnapped by Hades. Demeter, in her grief, brought winter.