House museums are a great way to glimpse into the history of American life. From modest ranch homes rich with history to decadent coastal mansions, the west coast has no shortage of excellent house museums.

In this article we’re going to cover seven of the best museum houses to visit along the west coast, from Pasadena, California all the way up to Walla Walla, Washington. Read on to find out what makes each of these homes so great to visit.

The Gamble House - Pasadena, California

Designed for David Gamble, a second generation member of the Procter and Gamble Company, the Gamble House is considered America’s “Arts and Crafts” architectural masterpiece. The Arts and Crafts style attempted to push back against a decline in architectural standards caused by the mass production and industrialism of the late 1800s. As a result, the Gamble House is filled with decorative touches, many Japanese in origin.

In addition to the ornate design, the home also features several exterior porches and gardens that visitors can tour.

Visitors may recognize the exterior of the mansion from the film Back to the Future, where Doc Brown resided.

Hearst Castle - San Simeon, California

Fifty six bedrooms, 19 sitting rooms, 127 acres of gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts, and an airfield. It sounds like we’re describing a city, but in reality all of these things sit on the Hearst estate in San Simeon, California.

William Randolph Hearst was one of the most prominent media moguls and businessmen in the United States. At one point he owned over two dozen newspapers (1 in 4 Americans got their news from a Hearst-owned newspaper).

One of Hearst Castle’s crowning jewels is the Neptune Pool. It has the facade of an ancient Roman temple and is comprised entirely of white marble.

The Adamson house - Malibu, California

“The Taj Mahal of Tile” is the name given to the coastal estate and gardens of the Adamson House. The name derives from the interior and exterior of the home which both include a great deal of decorative and colorful tile that was fired from local clay.

Each room in the house was designed with a different tilework theme, including the Neptune Fountain outside of the home.

The Bigelow House - Olympia, Washington

After crossing the Oregon Trail in 1851, Harvard Law graduate Daniel R. Bigelow arrived in Olympia, Washington and shortly after began work on the Bigelow House. One of the oldest pioneer homes in Washington, the Bigelow house was built in the gothic style and has been largely maintained or restored to its original condition.

The Kirkman House - Walla Walla, Washington

The Kirkman house is fun for the entire family. The house is an example of the growth and luxury of Walla Walla in the 1880s brought on by successful ranching in the region.

In its prime, the owners of the Kirkman house hosted extravagant events. Today, families can tour the house and participate in a murder-mystery game.

The Pittock Mansion - Portland, Oregon

Built by the Oregonian publisher, Henry Pittock, the Pittock Mansion is modeled after Victorian and French renaissance architecture.

Home to 46 rooms and a panoramic view of Portland, the mansion is one of the most extravagant estates on the west coast.

Tag: California