Discover the World’s Longest Home Renovation in History

Sarah Winchester spent 38 years designing and overseeing the construction of her home. What began as an addition to a modest eight-room farmhouse to make room for her two little sisters and their families turned into a decades-long home improvement project. Historians have long speculated on Sarah’s motivations for her constant renovations on her sprawling 160-room, 24,000-square-foot mansion. Read on to discover the world’s longest home renovation in history.

What is the World’s Longest Home Renovation in History?

Today, the Winchester Mystery House, located at 525 South Winchester Blvd, is a popular tourist destination in San Jose, CA. From 1886 to 1922, construction never stopped, making the Winchester Mystery House the world’s longest home renovation.

Tourists come from all over to walk through the home’s 24,000 square feet and marvel at the 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors, 47 fireplaces, 47 stairways, two ballrooms, three elevators, two basements, 52 skylights, and much more. What’s peculiar is that many doors lead to unexpected places (such as a 15-foot drop into an outdoor garden), and some staircases end at the ceiling. Strangely, exquisite stained glass windows were installed on the interior walls, where they received no light. Furthermore, the many hallways create a labyrinth of passageways throughout the sprawling house.

Who Was Sarah Winchester?

Sarah Lockwood Pardee Winchester was born in New Haven, CT. She married William Wirt Winchester, the only son of Oliver Winchester, founder of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Sarah faced tragedy in her life when her only daughter, Annie, died at one month of age in 1866. Her husband, William, died in 1881, leaving Sarah with a sizable fortune and 50% firearms ownership.

Following the loss of her husband and on advice from her doctor to move to a warmer, dryer climate to treat her rheumatoid arthritis, Sarah moved to San Jose. She then bought a farmhouse that was located on a 45-acre ranch and named the property Llanada Villa.

Sarah got right to work renovating her new home. Within the first few months, she added a dozen rooms. But she didn’t stop there. Although she had no formal training in architecture, Sarah learned all she could on the subject and designed all of the additions herself. She spent the next 38 years, until she died in 1922, with her home constantly under construction. 

Sarah was known to begin a project, not like how it was going, and abandon it, unfinished. Perhaps this is why some doors lead to blank walls, some windows are interior facing, and one stairway leads directly to the ceiling. 

What Are the Myths Surrounding the Winchester Mansion?

A house this unique is sure to have lore surrounding it, and the Winchester Mystery House is no exception. Indeed, many rumors persist that the home is haunted. Over the years, many have theorized Sarah’s motivations.

One story is that Sarah was told by a medium that she would be haunted by every ghost killed by a Winchester rifle unless she built a house with a room for each of them. Another tale says Sarah was haunted in her mansion in New Haven. Trying to escape the spirits, she fled to California but was followed by her ghosts. She built her house with its labyrinth of hallways and doors leading to nowhere to confuse the ghosts.

None of these myths are confirmed. However, what we do know is that Sarah’s father was a carpenter, and she loved architecture. Perhaps Sarah’s mystery house was simply a fun project for a woman with the means and the money to continue building on it whenever she felt the urge.

The Winchester Mystery House Today

Today, the Winchester House is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. The house was sold to a private investor following Sarah’s death. Today, the property is owned by a privately held company representing their descendants. Several tours are currently available. A Mansion Tour offers information on Sarah’s history and architecture. The second option is for those more interested in the myths behind the mansion. The Walk with Spirits Tour focuses on paranormal happenings inside the house.

Other Points of Interest in San Jose

There is much to explore in the city of San Jose. Less than ten minutes from the mystery house is the Municipal Rose Garden. Roses here bloom from April through November. Visitors can expect to see floribundas, grandifloras, and newly hybridized rose varieties.

Located next to the rose garden is another must-see attraction in San Jose. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is home to over 4,000 ancient Egyptian artifacts and mummies. It’s the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on the West Coast.

San Jose’s deepest lake is about a 30-minute drive south of the Winchester Mansion. The 76-foot-deep Calero Reservoir offers water sports, hiking, and bicycle trails. It also has a diverse animal population, including various bird species such as the Western Grebe and Clark’s Grebe. Although fishing is allowed, guests must catch and release due to high levels of mercury in the water.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Lee Boxleitner/Shutterstock.com