Spectacular Victorian Houses of San Francisco

San Francisco is famous for so many things! There are an endless amount of places to discover in the city and sites such as Golden Gate Bridge and cable cars are probably some of the first things that come to mind but there is so much more!

You are probably familiar with the city’s beautiful buildings from movies set in the city. San Francisco is famous for its beautiful architecture and especially the gorgeous Victorian houses scattered throughout town.

Here is a collection of some of the most beautiful ones I’ve come across…

The History of Victorian Houses

The Victorian style architecture originated in England during the reign of Queen Victoria roughly between 1837 and 1901.
San Francisco was among the first cities in the US to embrace Victorian style architecture and they have a long history in San Francisco. It is estimated that over 40 000 Victorian style homes were built in San Francisco between 1850 and 1900. Sadly, many of these beautiful architectural gems were destroyed in 1906 earthquake that shook the whole city. Luckily there are still many of them remaining in the city today!

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Neighborhoods with Victorian Style Houses in San Francisco

You can find Victorian style houses throughout the city in San Francisco but there are some neighborhoods where they are concentrated. These neighborhoods include The Haight, Lower Haight, Nob Hill, Pacific Heights and Mission District. The best way to explore these neighborhoods is by bike as you can enjoy the criss-crossing streets.

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It’s All About the Details….

When it comes to Victorian style houses, it’s all about the details. I recommend stopping by and looking up at the intricate designs. Many Victorian houses feature beautiful turrets, porches and windows at the front of the house but it’s funny that often the unexposed side of the house is very plain.

Painted Ladies aka “Seven Sisters” are arguably the most famous row of Victorian houses in San Francisco. Located at 720 Steiner Street next to Alamo Square Park, it offers a great place to see many Victorian style Houses with views of the city. The park can get crowded from time to time as it also offers a great place for picnic and attracts people to gather together especially when sun is out.

After seeing the famous Painted Ladies, walk up the hill to the other side of the park to Scott St – this side of the park tends to be less busy but still has many victorian style houses to see like the famous William Westerfeld House on the corner of Fulton St and Scott St.

Other Architectural Styles in San Francisco

San Francisco is known for its architecture. Especially the Victorian style architecture and modern architecture but there are plenty of other architectural styles in the city including Gothic, Edwardian, Art Deco, and Italianate, but that will need a whole new article to cover.

Final Thoughts

While there is so much to see in the city, going house watching is one of my favorite things to do. Sometimes I like to get an electric bike and cruise around the city’s different neighbourhoods. I recommend getting an electric bike since San Francisco’s hills can make your trip pretty exhausting! heh.

Have you got any tips for house watching in San Francisco? I would love to hear more in the comments.

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