The Winchester Mystery House (The Mansion Designed by Spirits California Historical Landmark #868)

The Winchester House had a very fascinating story of the mystery behind it. Speculations of the ghosts who visit Mrs. Winchester at midnight was frightening. No one ever knew why the ghosts would want to bother Mrs. Winchester. This book had good photographs of the estate as well as captions that go along with it.

Was very small, thin book . But it was very interesting and it was very informative.

My husband and I joke that we have the Winchester Mystery House of the town we live in. We bought a 110-yr-old Queen Anne Victorian a year ago, and we're still trying to make sense of the tangle of rooms.I saw a TV view of this house on a travel station. I was immediately awestruck.I've been so fortunate to have toured the Cuneo Mansion (featured in My Best Friend's Wedding), the Elwood House in DeKalb, IL and the Farnsworth House on the Fox River in Plano, IL. And last summer I was incredibly excited to tour real castles in the Czech Republic!This is one house I haven't yet gotten the chance to see in real life. However, when hubby and I bought this house, we needed some reference to Mrs. Winchester and her quirky ways, as we could not make sense of the structure.This book is actually a guide book (probably purchased in the gift shop at the mansion and re-sold here). It gives a very detailed and interesting aspect of Sarah Winchester's life and eccentricities. Man, was she eccentric. I think she may have been the reason the word gained popularity in the early 1900s...!This house was a calling for Mrs. Winchester, after the untimely deaths of both her infant daughter and her husband. She visited a psychic who told her she needed to build a house for the spirits of all those killed by the Winchester Rifle (or so I understand it) to appease them. She was told she would be spared.So, in California, Sarah finds her plot of land with a farmhouse on it. She buys it and soon, it's an architectural and psychological wonder for all to behold. She hires dozens of workers to build, build, BUILD! The work the house is to be done 24/7, no breaks for holidays. And odd features, such as dead-end staircases and enormous, room-spanning cabinets, were added.At first, I thought this was all due to her interesting lifestyle. When you read this book, you will realize that she was not only eccentric and lived a tragic life, but she was also a brilliant woman with many innovative ideas for the time.For those of us who can't find the spare change to go visit the house in person, this book is a welcome coffee table addition.

The sticker was still on the back cover. $7 retail at the time of purchase. Some nice pictures in the book, and a little background on the mysterious Sarah Winchester.The book is a quick read, and only a light rendering of the fascinating story of the Winchesters and their spooky old house. Truth be told, the book was rather bland and uninteresting, as if someone had purposefully written it to produce mild boredom in the readers.Still, the photos are high quality, and this is an okay little book to leave on my coffee table for guests awaiting the dinner bell.Don't pay too much money for this book. You'll be disappointed. It's about the thickness and size of a grocery story magazine, albeit with high-quality glossy pages.

Seems repetitive. There are a few specific tidbits, but overall I hope the tour is worth the travel.

I love everything about the Winchester house. I don’t think I’ve ever thrown out anything Winchester related. But the Winchester house is a whole different ball of wax. It is the coolest place I’ve ever been in. I love that time period,too. This book will help me understand Sarah Winchester.

Great book! I visited the Winchester Mystery House years ago and never forgot it. I am always telling people about it as it is absolutely amazing. This book is great as it points all the highlights about this house. It is full of pictures. As a matter of fact the cover folds out showing the entire compound. I really did not expect it would be as good as it is. Very pleased with this purchase!

Great. They've also discovered new rooms :). need to go back to visit it again

For interest. Thin book but beautiful pictures.