winchester mansion

winchester mansion
Originally uploaded by bluepupae.

i don't know if i was really expecting anything when i arrived, but my first impression walking through the stereotypically obnoxious gift store then to the waiting area outside that reminded me of being at disneyland left much to be desired. luckily, once the tour started that changed.

during the tour, i spent most of my time taking a lot of photos of the home, over 500 photos in fact, but from what i could gather, the tour seems geared towards a large audience. there are some interesting historical tidbits, but the whole thing seems written to entertain rather than educate.

still, a look inside the house, if you take your time, past the slick paint, can offer a view of architectural details, quirky "mistakes", and detailed motifs that came out of the eccentric mind of sarah winchester. the conservatory is quite lovely, with all the windows and light and open space compared to other parts of the house, with room after small room of confined space and twisting stairs. some areas of the home were damaged by earthquake, and it was interesting that they left those parts of the home unrepaired as if time had stopped.

the tour moves fairly quickly through this large estate. at one point, i did one of the things the tour guide warned us about which was to fall behind the tour taking photos and almost got lost. all of a sudden it was quiet, and extremely spooky, since there was no sign of anyone in #58 on my 101 in 1001 list
the house. the place is huge and small at the same time, and the labyrinthine hallways and staircases make it difficult to orient yourself. i have to give it to the tour guides to lead us through this maze. luckily for me, the fussy child in our tour group saved me from the ghosts, and i eventually made my way back.

not sure if historically, the home has been preserved in the truest sense. the gardens were nice, but felt small in comparison. because of the shrunken acreage of the estate, the whole place feels confined and partly consumed bye the encroaching modern city around it. if you're in the area, it's worth a visit.