Golden Gate Villa, Santa Cruz
Golden Gate Villa in Santa Cruz is a notable Queen Anne-style mansion with a rich history that dates back to its construction in 1891. Designed by architect Thomas J. Welsh from San Francisco, the villa was built as a summer residence for Major Frank McLaughlin, a prominent mining engineer and California politician. McLaughlin, who was a prot茅g茅 of Thomas Edison, named the house after one of his mining ventures in Oroville.
The villa features three stories, a full basement, an attic, two full towers, and one half-tower, with the main tower once being the highest point in Santa Cruz. This architectural marvel served not only as a private residence but also as a social hub, hosting notable figures such as Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas Edison.
In the 1940s, the villa transitioned into a commercial space, operating as the Palais Monte Carlo restaurant. It changed hands several times until 1963 when it was purchased by seafood magnate William W. Durney and his wife, screenwriter Dorothy Kingsley. Eventually, the villa was sold to its current owner and was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places on July 24, 1975.
Golden Gate Villa stands as a reminder of the opulence of Beach Hill as a resort area in early Santa Cruz. The district once boasted several villas and hotels, such as the Sea Beach Hotel, but Golden Gate Villa is the sole survivor, encapsulating an era and an architectural style that have otherwise faded from memory. Today, Golden Gate Villa remains a historical landmark, echoing the legacies of its former owner and the transformative era he epitomized.
The villa features three stories, a full basement, an attic, two full towers, and one half-tower, with the main tower once being the highest point in Santa Cruz. This architectural marvel served not only as a private residence but also as a social hub, hosting notable figures such as Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas Edison.
In the 1940s, the villa transitioned into a commercial space, operating as the Palais Monte Carlo restaurant. It changed hands several times until 1963 when it was purchased by seafood magnate William W. Durney and his wife, screenwriter Dorothy Kingsley. Eventually, the villa was sold to its current owner and was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places on July 24, 1975.
Golden Gate Villa stands as a reminder of the opulence of Beach Hill as a resort area in early Santa Cruz. The district once boasted several villas and hotels, such as the Sea Beach Hotel, but Golden Gate Villa is the sole survivor, encapsulating an era and an architectural style that have otherwise faded from memory. Today, Golden Gate Villa remains a historical landmark, echoing the legacies of its former owner and the transformative era he epitomized.
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Golden Gate Villa on Map
Sight Name: Golden Gate Villa
Sight Location: Santa Cruz, USA (See walking tours in Santa Cruz)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Santa Cruz, USA (See walking tours in Santa Cruz)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Santa Cruz, California
Create Your Own Walk in Santa Cruz
Creating your own self-guided walk in Santa Cruz is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Buildings Walk
Apart from surfboard-filled shores, Santa Cruz is also rich in history reflected in the old buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While none of Santa Cruz's historic architecture sprang up overnight, a great deal of it was lost, or severely damaged, in a single go on October 17, 1989 as a result of the Loma Prieta earthquake. Still, some of the historic buildings have... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Santa Cruz Introduction Walking Tour
Santa Cruz dates back to the founding of Mission Santa Cruz, founded in 1791. The modern city's incorporation dates back to 1866, and some of the most popular industries were agriculture, lime mining, gunpowder manufacturing, and lumber.
In July 1885, three teenage Hawaiian princes took a break from their boarding school, St. Mathew's Hall in San Mateo, and came to cool off in Santa... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
In July 1885, three teenage Hawaiian princes took a break from their boarding school, St. Mathew's Hall in San Mateo, and came to cool off in Santa... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles