The Mark Hopkins Mansion
Mark Hopkins was known as one of the "Big Four" in San Francisco in the late 19th century. He was one of the founders of the Central Pacific Railroad. Hopkins choose to build his mansion on the fashionable Nob Hill where is fellow multimillionaires also resided. Sadly Hopkins would not see his mansion and it was completed in 1878 after his death. The mansion was a show piece which anyone can tell from the photographs. It survived the 1906 earthquake but sadly was destroyed in the fire that followed in the days after.
After the fire:
If you like what you read on my blog and would like to contribute to the house restoration please click the donate button below. All donations will be GREATLY appreciated!!
After the fire:
If you like what you read on my blog and would like to contribute to the house restoration please click the donate button below. All donations will be GREATLY appreciated!!
how many rooms did this house have?
ReplyDeleteGood question. I don't think I have ever heard how many room it had, or seen blueprints for that matter.
DeleteI am intrigued by this ornate building. Hmm.. I read elsewhere that it was made of wood.
ReplyDeleteYes I have read that it was built of wood too and painted to look like stone. A fantastic structure lost to history.
DeleteIf I remember right seems like I've read somewhere that these mansions blueprints were destroyed after they were built so no one else could have that type of home
ReplyDeleteVery interesting thought! I have never heard that before, but it could be true. It was such a fantastic place I would think Hopkins or his widow or architect would want to show off such a showpiece. I guess we will probably never know as most likely the records were all destroyed in the earthquake.
DeleteThe huge painting on one wall depicts Indian mutineers being "blown from the guns" by British artillerymen during the Indian Mutiny of 1857. It's an odd image, and I wonder if Hopkins acquired the original? What a thing to have so prominently displayed in your house! And in an American's house, at that. As far as I know, Hopkins had no connection with either Britain or India.
ReplyDeleteAs I am sure you know it was typical for these wealthy barons to do a grand tour of Europe and purchase endless train cars full of furniture, statues, paintings and art to bring home to their lavish estates. I would speculate that this is where the painting came from but of course further research would have to be done to see if there was more history as to how and why he acquired the artwork.
DeleteThe interior photos shown were taken after the house has been converted into an art museum following Mrs. Hopkins death. So, it’s unclear if any of this art actually belong to the Hopkins. The original furnishings had been removed; some survive and museums or up here at auction. There are no known surviving photographs of the interiors as they were originally furnished for the Hopkins.
DeleteIt appears that the gothic arched structure suspended over the carriage entrance is a green house. Could this be true?
ReplyDeleteIt was, but they changed it. Mary Hopkins second husband, Edward Searles, donated the home to the University of California in trust for the San Francisco Art Association... they used the home as a school and museum. They built a facility in place of the green house for "instruction in and illustration of the fine arts, music and literature."
DeleteThere are pictures before the earthquake/fire of it updated without the green house.
DeleteThanks for the updates Zack. I have always loved attached conservatories in Victorian houses. This one is a beautiful example.
DeletePort cochere under a greenhouse.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Matt! My name is Dennis Sullivan and I live in Santa Monica. I have immense admiration for what you are doing. Are you able to telephone me, 310 - 399 - 6769. Hope we may talk . Dennis Sullivan
ReplyDeleteThank you for showing these beautiful pictures of this impressive structure. I have listed a stereoview showing this mansion on ebay. In my research for more information I found your blog. A picture is just a picture, but this building starts living thanks to you. Greetings from the Netherlands
ReplyDeleteHello Netherlands from Minnesota! I saw your listing for the stereoview card and it was very cool to see. Makes me wonder how it ended up in The Netherlands all the way from California. Perhaps an earlier traveler or it was sold in a series of cards.
DeleteGod how I wish that building was still standing today and everything that was inside of it. So magnificent to the behold with the eye! What a tragic shame that it went up in flames.
ReplyDeleteHey, I have been trying to recreate this house in 3D software, and your resources have been invaluable to me. I also found some blueprints to the house if you're interested:
ReplyDeletehttps://landmarkhunter.com/photos/62/53/625398-M.jpg
I also found an interesting recreation of the mansion:
https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/07_Mark-Hopkins-Mansion-THEN-min.jpg
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing the insurance maps of the property. It tells us a little bit more about it. Seems so little is known about such a great mansion because it lasted so shortly. Seems there MUST be more photos out there hiding in someone's attic, just waiting to be discovered.
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