525 S. Winchester Boulevard
San Jose, CA , 95128 Phone: (408) 247-2101 Website The Winchester Mystery House is a mansion that was once the personal residence of Sarah Winchester, the widow of gun magnate William Wirt Winchester. Sources claim that Sarah Winchester while consulting a Boston Medium, came to believe that her family and fortune were haunted by the ghosts of people who had fallen victim to Winchester rifles, and that only by moving West and continuously building them a house could she appease these spirits. Under Winchester's day-to-day guidance, its "from-the-ground-up" construction proceeded around the clock, without interruption. Construction commenced in 1884 and ended with her death on September 5, 1922. The cost for such constant building has been estimated at about $5.5 million (equivalent to over $75 million in 2012). It now serves as a tourist attraction.
The Queen Anne Style Victorian mansion is renowned for its size and utter lack of any master building plan.
The Winchester Mystery House is near Interstate 280 on Winchester Blvd (a freeway off ramp).
Every Friday the 13th is a special day at the Mystery house. Mrs. Winchester was very superstitious and observed Friday the 13th during her life. At the Mystery House, they honor her memory on these days by ringing the bell at the mansion and giving special flashlight tours.
Tours of the interior are available during the day, especially on weekends. On special dates, they have night tours and these tours are popular.
Machine 2: is located at the exit to the gift shop. Design is:
1) An image of a flashlight, bicycle and hammer with the words "Winchester Products Museum, San Jose, California," .
Machine 10: (2018) Three position machine located in the gift shop near the exit door. Designs are:
1) Bouquet of Flowers,
2) Decorative window,
3) Horse drawn carriage with driver and passenger.
Off stage Machines. Out on special occasions only.
Machine 9: (2017) Candlelight Tour Design
1) "Winchester Mystery House Halloween Candlelight Tours', House logo over Tour info over City and State
Retired Machines:
Retired 1: 1) "Winchester Mystery House San Jose, California", Logo with City & State name in the arch under, 'e' at puller
Retired 3: 1) an image of a Winchester rifle and the words "The Gun that Won the West.
Retired 5: 1) Building, 2) '13' in cobweb, 3) Sarah Winchester.
Retired Special Occasion and older designs:
1) Fright Night tours (Retired) ,
2) Halloween flashlight design
3) Friday 13th design, '13th' left of the shining flashlight.
4) Retired Wild West Weekend May 26 to 28, 2012 design: 1) 'Wild West Weekend May 26 to 28, 2012', 'W' made of rope first letter of each name of the weekend, House name top with City State under it, Date bottom
5) Retired 4 'Behind The Scenes' tour design.
6) Logo with the words "Winchester Mystery House San Jose, California". City & State name in the arch under, no 'e' at puller,
7) Logo with the words "Winchester Mystery House". No city & state in arch under, no 'e' at puller
Retired Aluminum Token designs: 1) 'Winchester Mystery House San Jose, California, Historic Landmark', double circle border contains name around the top, City State around the bottom, Landmark under the image of the house in middle,
Rear- 'Good luck Souvenir', crossed rifles with powder horn and line design of ghost.
Retired special occasion token: 'Mystic Midway One token', Skull with hat, Rear- 'Mystic Midway One token', the image of House. (Wooden Nickel)
8/31/24: machines 2 and 10 are out of order, all other machines are gone, free to enter gift shop |
