Almond Courtyard

Welcome. On your stroll of the gardens today, you’ll not only see the beautifully restored gardens, but also many fine examples of Victorian architecture and many outlying buildings that were all part of a self-sustaining farm. Over the years, many important and famous guests have visited Mrs. Winchester’s home, including film crews from the History Channel, the Travel Channel, A & E, and the Discovery channel. But our most important guests are the thousands of people who have come from around the world, since 1923, just to explore Mrs. Winchester’s beautiful, but bizarre mansion. I welcome you all to San Jose and the world-famous Winchester Mystery House. I am also proud to know that the Winchester Mystery House is a registered California Historical Landmark and is also listed on the National Register Places. Sarah Winchester’s vocation was growing prunes, apricots, and walnuts. Her obsession was incessant building. Construction and reconstruction was continuous here, and as you’ve seen today, Sarah’s interior and exterior design work were uniquely different than anything you’ve ever seen before. Why did Sarah Winchester build this house? Was her round-the-clock construction just an eccentric, expensive hobby, or did Mrs. Winchester build as the spirits directed? We may never know the whole story, but I think you’ll agree that the Winchester Mystery House is one of the world’s strangest homes, beautiful, but bizarre. I hope you enjoy your tour of the Winchester Mystery House Estate. We believe it has allowed Sarah Winchester a unique kind of eternal life. Thank you for coming, and we hope to see you again soon. Now, the guide maps that you received with your tour tickets will show you the route that we recommend to help you enjoy your stroll through the gardens. At several points along the tour, you’ll be able to listen to some of Mrs. Winchester’s former employees describing areas that you’ll be visiting. Spend as long as you wish on the grounds and take all the pictures you like. However, to ensure that all our Guests enjoy the tour, we must ask that there be no smoking while in the gardens. And lastly, we ask that you please keep the gardens clean by placing your trash in the waste receptacles.