Wasn’t it William McElroy a wood miller who built this marvel? The McElroy Octagon House stands before you a testament to a bygone era. Built in 1861 it’s one of only three octagonal houses remaining in San Francisco. Its unique shape wasn’t just for aesthetics. Orson Squire Fowler a phrenologist advocated for octagonal homes in his 1848 book. He believed this shape maximized space light and efficient heating and cooling.
The McElroy Octagon House followed Fowler’s design closely. It boasts two floors each with four wedge-shaped rooms. A central staircase connects them all. Imagine the McElroy family living here in the 1860s. The Gold Rush had transformed San Francisco. William McElroy’s letter found in a time capsule described a city bursting with wealth and opportunity. He also wrote about the looming Civil War a stark contrast to the prosperity around him.
The house wasn’t always here. It originally stood across the street. In 1951 the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in California purchased the neglected house. They moved it to its current location and undertook a meticulous restoration. During this restoration a remarkable discovery was made. Workers unearthed a time capsule left by the McElroys. It contained newspapers an ambrotype and William McElroy’s poignant letter.
The Octagon House now serves as a museum. It displays decorative arts from the Colonial and Federal periods. You can see American furniture silver ceramics and even a near-complete collection of signatures from the signers of the Declaration of Independence. It’s more than just a building. It’s a window into San Francisco’s past a tangible link to the McElroy family and a reminder of a unique architectural movement. Step inside and let the history of the Octagon House surround you.