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| Landmark #856 | San Mateo County | Visited: November 16, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | The lavish summer residence of San Francisco financier, William Chapman Ralston! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: This redwood structure was completed in 1868 by William Chapman Ralston, San Francisco financier. Incorporating Count Cipriani’s earlier villa, this enlarged mansion with its mirrored ballroom became the symbol of the extravagance of California’s Silver Age. It anticipated features later incorporated into Ralston’s Palace Hotel in San Francisco.
OTHER TIDBITS: William Ralston made his fortune as founder of the Bank of California and the Palace Hotel in San Francisco! He used the luxuriousness of his buildings to draw people from the east to experience the potential of San Francisco and California at large! He even hosted the very first Japanese delegation to the US! This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Campus of College of Notre Dame 1500 Ralston Ave Belmont, CA 94002 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~366mi (590km) — 6.1hrs |
| When should I go? | Ralston Hall is closed indefinitely to gauge its seismic stability! The more support the restorers receive, the sooner they will be able to reopen it! |
