As you know, I went to California a few weeks ago with a few other fellow publishers to experience Sunny San Jose in full tilt. First I told you about my favorite foodie experience, now I am going to share my mystery experience. The Winchester Mystery House.
Spooky and haunted? Or just innovative and before its time? After visiting the Winchester Mystery House for myself, I would say a little bit of both. If you have never heard the entire story of the Winchester House and builder, Sarah Winchester, it's for sure a mysterious one. Let me give you a quick back story. Sarah Winchester, who stood just 4 feet 10 inches, was the heiress to the Winchester Rifle fortune. Yes, the Winchester Rifle. Yes, my husband was jealous I was there.
Sarah married William Winchester who was the heir of the company that developed the repeating rifle, a gun that was easy to reload and fire rapidly. Like every 3 seconds fast. This gun was known as "the gun that won the West". Yep, that gun. The couple started a family but sadly lost their infant daughter, and years later Mr. Winchester passed of tuberculosis. The story goes to say that Sarah was so distraught, she went to a medium. The medium told her that her family was cursed and haunted by the ghosts of those killed by the infamous Winchester rifle. Sarah was told she had to build a house for the spirits and never stop building or she too would die. And that she did continuously for 38 years until her death.
The result is a very unusual mansion with 160 rooms, staircases that lead to nowhere, cupboards that opened to a wall, doors that opened to a drop to stories below, smaller doors right next to other doors, winding stairs that were only inches high, and circled back and forth for what seemed forever, a closet door in the second-floor seance room opens onto a sink that is located on the floor below. 
Sarah also seemed to favor the number 13, as it was found throughout the mansion in window panes, 13 bathrooms, wall panels, flooring, oh…and even the séance room has 13 coat hooks. Creepy, yes? The mansion has beautiful Tiffany stained glasses, intricate Victorian details, and innovative "before its time" inventions that are really just mind-blowing.
Me, looking up a little freaked out in the seance room. (far right).So was this a bizarre house that was built to confuse spirits or someone who had millions to spend and became an innovator of her time? Were the stairs that zigzagged forever and built 2 inches high to confuse spirits or because Sarah had terrible arthritis? Whatever the answer, we will never know. What I do know is that this Mysterious Mansion is full of story, details, and is absolutely fascinating. Well worth the visit, and be sure to bring the hubby as he may enjoy the museum of Winchester Rifles - I know mine would have.
The writer was a guest of San Jose for the purpose of this review. Accommodations, meals, and most activities were complimentary. No compensation was received and all opinions are her own.
