The Carson Mansion in Eureka, California, is often described as the epitome of Victorian design and fine craftsmanship. That was only possible with the money, taste, and expertise of a man who grew fabulously rich selling California redwood lumber in the wake of the gold rush. William Carson also invested in railroad and shipping companies to export his lumber, giving him access to all the resources the builders would need to construct the home to his standards. Before the construction commenced in the 1880s, Carson was quoted as saying, "If I build it poorly, they would say that I am a damned miser; if I build it expensively, they will say I'm a show off; guess I'll just build it to suit myself." The exterior is to this day photographed to no end, but the mansion is not open to the public for regular tours. Rest assured, the interior is just as rich and ornate as the outside.
The video above gives you just a little taste of what the mansion looks like inside. You can take a virtual tour in color, courtesy of the Ingomar Club, which was founded with the express purpose of preserving the Carson Mansion.
(Image credit: Joe Mabel)
