The Golden Gate Villa - A Queen Anne house built in 1891

The Golden Gate Villa - A Queen Anne house built in 1891

Step into the past as we introduce you to the Golden Gate Villa, a Queen Anne beauty in Santa Cruz, CA that dates back to 1891 and has a colorful history.

Welcome, fellow travelers! Indulge me as I share a tale of the Golden Gate Villa, a remarkable Queen Anne treasure situated in the heart of Santa Cruz, California. This architectural marvel was the brainchild of San Francisco architect Thomas J. Welsh, completed in 1891 for Major Frank McLaughlin, a mining engineer and California politician. The home welcomed notable figures such as Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas Edison.

Over the years, the house has seen an array of residents and uses. In the 1940s, it was operated as a restaurant called the Palais Monte Carlo. In 1963, the house was purchased by seafood magnate William W. Durney and his screenwriter wife Dorothy Kingsley, who later sold it to the present owner.

On July 24, 1975, the Golden Gate Villa was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places, enshrining its legacy. Next time you saunter through the streets of Santa Cruz, ensure to cast your gaze upon this architectural masterpiece.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

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Written by Friendly Jane

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