Ask anyone to describe what makes San Francisco extraordinary, and Victorian architecture would land near the top of the list, somewhere between Alcatraz and VC money. (This is also a good time for this point of clarification: Victorian refers to a period, not a style. To call a building “a Victorian” means it was designed during Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901.)

San Francisco was one of the first U.S. cities to take Victorian architecture and run with it. Developers created Victorian homes in the South Park section of the city back in the 1850s. They designed them to look like row homes in London. The gingerbread-house details are a more American addition, where no surface was left untouched. The style was super popular for large summer houses and later adapted for the urban row house and workers’ cottages like those in Glen Park and Potrero.

Features of a Victorian House

Some of the key features of Victorian homes:

Large homes that are two or even three stories high
One-story porches that often wrap around the entire home
An asymmetrical shape that sets one Victorian home apart from the next
Very steep roofs
Covered in decorative trim and painted bright colors (more on that later.

How San Francisco Became The Hub Of Victorian Architecture

San Francisco is not the only U.S. city to embrace Victorian architecture. But there aren’t many other American cities that showcase Victorian homes entirely as San Francisco does. One of the reasons was due to the fact that local redwood timber made it easy for developers and contractors to build Victorian homes. Redwood timber is very accessible in the Bay Area, and is also easy to work with when building Victorian houses. Unlike some other types of wood, redwood is soft. It’s also easy to carve into many different shapes, which comes in handy when constructing detailed Victorian homes. From 1850 through 1915, developers built almost 50,000 San Francisco Victorian houses.

Rob Thomson, president of the Victorian Alliance of San Francisco, the city’s oldest all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to the restoration and preservation of historically significant structures, estimated that only 13,000 to 15,000 of the city’s original stock of 50,000 Victorian buildings remain, most of them residences.

“The houses are located in all the city’s neighborhoods,” he said, adding that the alliance’s annual autumn house tour typically attracts 500 to 1,200 people. “But some of the most spectacular concentrations are in Alamo Square, the Mission District, and Noe Valley.”

Today, the remaining homes are under the protection of vigorous historical preservation rules. Everything from the choice of exterior paint colors to indoor kitchen pulls and knobs all have strong guidance from the Victorian preservation societies. They are also some of the most sought-after homes in the Bay Area.

Famous Victorian Houses in San Francisco

The Painted Ladies

Along the eastern side of Alamo Square Park is one of the most iconic and most photographed sights in San Francisco. These pastel-colored homes, standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the gentle slope of Steiner Street, are called the Painted Ladies. Also known as “postcard row” for their scenic beauty, these Victorian homes (still occupied by locals) are a beautiful reminder of the San Francisco of old, while the gleaming downtown skyline of new San Francisco shimmers in the distance.

The Haas-Lilienthal House

Designed by architect Peter R. Schmidt for William and Bertha Haas, and constructed in 1886, the 11,500 square foot Haas-Lilienthal House embodies both the ambitious spirit of San Francisco’s pioneers and its grand Victorian-period architecture.

Today, this exuberant Queen Anne style home survives as a site of national cultural and architectural significance. In addition to being on the National Register of Historic Places and San Francisco Landmark #69, the House was designated a National Treasure in 2012 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Westerfield House

Standing proud in one corner of Alamo Square, the 12-bedroom William Westerfeld House (Russian Embassy for friends and close acquaintances) inscrutably overlooks the entire city from its famous tower. Its story had begun many years before it made an appearance in Wolfe’s book, though — in 1889, to be precise. Built by Henry Geilfuss at the request of German confectioner William Westerfeld, it would change hands multiple times over the decades, the first a mere six years after its construction: The buyer was John Mahony of the Mahony Brothers, who would play an important role in the rebuilding of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake.

Abner Phelps House

The exact history of the home’s origins is unclear, with two competing theories. An account from 1934 states that the house was built by John Middleton & Sons in 1850. Although there is a more romantic story surrounding the home’s origins, in 1961, Phelps’ great-granddaughter stated the house was initially bought in New Orleans, then shipped to San Francisco and pieced together. This was supposedly done to soothe Abner Phelps’ wife, who was homesick for Louisiana.The house is built in the Gothic Revival style, popular throughout Europe and the United States, although it stands out among a sea of Victorians in SF. The house was designated a San Francisco landmark in 1970.

Victorian Houses from the Big and Little Screen

San Francisco has plenty of iconic landmarks and picturesque neighborhoods, so it’s no wonder that the city gets its good share of appearances in the movies. Some of its iconic undulating streets became the setting for one of the most enduring movie car chases. The Golden Gate Bridge is truly unmissable, having become a sort of monumental disaster movie trope on its own, inspiring everything from giant monster attacks to tsunamis.

Most of the actual movie locations in San Francisco are out in the open and easy to access. These include Chinatown and the Painted Ladies across from the Alamo Square Park, while the notorious prison island museum of Alcatraz requires a boat trip out. Here are some of the most iconic San Francisco places in film and television where cinephiles can relive their favorite scenes on a visit to “The Golden City”.

Movies featuring the Painted Ladies include The Five-Year Engagement, Shut Up Little Man, Bicentennial Man, So I Married an Axe Murderer, The Woman in Red, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Conversation and Dirty Harry.

TV shows that featured Victorians include Full House, Nash Bridges, Party of Five, That’s So Raven and more.

House Hunting for a Victorian in San Francisco? Jackson Fuller Can Help

Jackson Fuller Real Estate is an invaluable resource for those looking to buy or sell Victorian/Edwardianhomes in San Francisco. Our team offers expertise and personalized service, assisting clients in finding the right property or navigating the complex process of sell ing real estate in San Francisco. Reach out for guidance and support in your San Francisco real estate journey. Speak to an agent now or whenever you are ready!

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