Tour the Dunsmuir Historic Estate

These are just some of the rooms you will see when you visit the 16,000 square foot Dunsmuir Historic Estate.

Foyer
The beautiful inlaid hardwood floor has a Moresque border pattern and the ancient good luck symbol. The original maple paneling was painted over sometime in the 1920s to lighten the room. The fireplace is decorated with the traditional egg and dart pattern and the tile on the hearth has a lovely ribbon motif. The bricks were molded in nearby San Leandro. The heavy wood settee next to the library door belonged to the Dunsmuirs.

Parlor
This room was used to receive and entertain guests. The fireplace is the focal point with the Adams influence of the classical motif of victory wreaths and torches along with the rare Mexican onyx. The wood panels in the room are mahogany and the paintings around the room are of California scenes (on loan from the Oakland Museum).

Game Room
This Redwood paneled room was an after-dinner retreat for the gentlemen. Originally it included a billiard table, player piano and other forms of entertainment. The molded brick fireplace features the classical quilloche design and a Greek key pattern on the hearth tile.

Library
Traditionally, the Hellman's male guests used the library as a place to congregate and discuss the affairs of the day before joining the ladies for dinner. This room has the oldest wall covering in the house, although it is not original. The original fireplace was removed by Mrs. Hellman and replaced by this one purchased in Italy. The hardwood floor has a herringbone pattern with the embattled design around the sailor's knot. The back-to-back settees and tables were used by the Hellman family. The traditional symbol of hospitality, the pineapple, is carved on the walnut bookcases.

Dome
The exquisite Tiffany-style glass dome above the main staircase is approximately 10 feet in diameter. It is comprised of about 7,000 pieces of stained glass. It has a protective skylight above and is surrounded by a balustrade that crowns the house and can be seen from the outside.

Gallery
The dumbwaiter was used by the servants to move food trays and linens. It goes from the basement to the third floor. The photograph next to the servant's staircase is of Alexander Dunsmuir. You will pass it on your exit from the second floor. The two pictures of I.W. Hellman Jr. (as a child) are situated near the master bedroom. In one, he is with his two sisters.

Linen Closet
It is centrally located for the upstairs maids to service the bedrooms. It is lined with cedar and is large enough to handle a variety of necessary linens for the house.

Guest Bedroom (Red Room)
This is the smallest of the guest bedrooms and is the only upstairs room with a linoleum floor. The bedrooms were referred to by the color of the fireplace tiles.

Brighton Bedroom (Green Room)
This room has been dubbed the "Brighton Room" because of the faux bamboo furniture that was influenced by the furniture in the Brighton Pavilion in England. The wood is birds eye maple and birch made to resemble bamboo. The fireplace is more elaborate than the one in the first guest bedroom and includes a lovely beveled glass mirror.

Guest Bathroom
Located between the Brighton and Oval rooms, this bathroom has a third door accessible from the gallery which enabled guests to use the bathroom without passing through a bedroom. Notice the beautiful shell-motif tile border that was hand painted.

Oval Bedroom
This lovely oval room with its bay windows sits over the library. The fireplace ornamentation is rich in floral design as are the wall scones with their delicate porcelain roses. The mahogany sleigh bed and dresser (with swan head and feet design) belonged to the Hellmans.

Master Bedroom
This is the only bedroom on the second floor with an inlaid border on the hardwood parquet floor. The ornate burl walnut furniture is a reproduction of Lousi XV furniture made in Italy.

Florence's Bedroom
This is one of the five rooms that was created when the Hellmans remodeled the original master bedroom suite. The Hellman's daughter's bedroom includes a classic brass bed which predated the stamped out manufactured brass beds.

Nurse/Governess' Room
This simple and plain room is strategically located for easy access to the children's bedrooms. Notice the wash basin, chamber pot and small closet.

Nursery
This was originally used as a study for the governess. The lamp fixture on the wall is an example of the Arts and Crafts reform movement's design of the late 19th century. The shade is made of isinglass, which are thin sheets of transparent mica. The crib was found in the attic. The pipe in this room is not original to the house, but was part of the heating system installed by the City of Oakland.

Boys' Bedroom
Notice the large built-in drawers for the boy who would put everything in its place or have a servant who would do it for him.

(The passageway contains another bedroom and bath that were used by the Hellman children. These are not open to the public.)

Third Floor
Fire regulations prevent us from showing this area to the public. It contains an enclosure for the dome, nine servants' bedrooms, two baths and a large storage and/or storage room.

Servants' Stairs
This narrow, steep stairway descends from the third floor down to the basement. It was designed for the servants whose movements around the house were not to be seen or heard. Notice the small doors of the laundry chute.

Dining Room
This dark oak-paneled room, shell niches and columns are typical of the Neoclassical style of architecture. The ornate decoration on the built-in sideboard conveys the wealth and abundance of the owner. The brass wood carrier next to the fireplace belonged to the Dunsmuirs.

Butler's Pantry
This room stored the essential elements of a formal presentation for the family and guests when they dined in the Mansion. The built-in box held pitchers of water and plated food to be served at a moment's notice.

Kitchen
This very busy room provided meals for 25 people, including servants, during the busy summer months. The massive range burned wood and coal and it is plumbed for gas. It is still in working condition. Notice the separate pastry pantry.

Servants' Dining Room
Simple and unpretentious, this room offered a respite for the servants and a quiet place for them to take their meals. The only features of the original decor include the gas and electric light fixture, the servant's call box and the iron-fronted fireplace.

Basement
The large wine cellar is located immediately to your right at the bottom of the stairs. You can see the handwritten labels that identify what was stored in each rack. To the left of the stairway is the laundry room filled with washing machines. The stove was used for heating water and clothes irons. All laundry, even for the San Francisco home, was done here.

Now, take a 360 degree tour of the mansion lawn, mansion interior, Pavilion interior and terrace, south pond and carriage house.

Check back soon for detailed floor plans and additional photos of the mansion and grounds.