Virtual Tour of Octagon House

The Octagon House is one of two remaining 19th century octagonal houses in San Francisco, California and located at the corner Gough and Union. Built in 1861 by William C. McElroy, the house was saved from destruction by The National Society of The Colonial Dames in California and moved to its current site in 1952. At that time, Octagon House underwent extensive renovation under the guidance of Warren C. Perry, Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of California.

Octagon House was renovated to be a Museum of Decorative Arts from the American Colonial and Federal Periods and the headquarters for The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in California.

The museum collection contains portraits, ceramics, pewter and needlework samplers, as well as an exhibit of historical documents relevant to the founding of the United States.

Please Watch our Virtual Tour 

 

Video Description

The virtual tour is about 5 minutes long. The music playing is American Colonial composer, John Fredrich Peter: Quintet No. 1 in D.

The video opens with water color painting of the Octagon house showing the front porch, the two-story building and the cupola on the roof. The eight-sided house is built of wood and painted a light blue with white trim. The water color shows the white picket fence surrounding the garden with green trees and a small blooming pink magnolia.  The NSCDA and California State seals appear on the left and right of the watercolor. 

Next, the President of the NSCDA in California begins the virtual tour with the following welcome to visitors:

Hello, I’m Sarah Heatwole President of the California Society of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America. Welcome to our virtual tour of our state headquarters, the historic Octagon House.

The video then shows a view from Gough Street of the front porch and front door of Octagon House.

The next image presents a copy of the book, “The Octagon House A Home for All” by Orson S. Fowler. Fowler originally published this book in 1853 to promote the construction of octagon houses.  Also shown are the interior floorplans for both the lower and upper floors of the original house.

The video continues with a view outside the house and focuses in on the building’s cornerstone with the inscription, “National Society of Colonial Dames of America Resident in California, April 7, 1953”

The next image is a view of the Golden Gate bridge, a popular image in and of San Francisco.

First Floor

The video now shows the first-floor interior of Octagon House. The view presents the large meeting space in the center, behind that is the staircase to the second floor. Decorative arts including Colonial style chairs and couch are on the left and to the right are Federal style items including a large sideboard.

The next sequence of images is of the tall-case clock. The clock is made of cherry with Birdseye maple insets. The clock face is painted white with black numerals. Inside the clock case the pendulum is shown swinging back and forth still keeping accurate time with the weight (or “bob” hanging from a string) to power the clock.   

The next view is of the right side of first floor with furniture from the Federal period. This includes a long sofa carved with acanthus leaves and upholstered with rose colored stripes on the right and a built-in corner cupboard containing Chinese exported porcelain. Also shown is a Portrait of Francis Madison Rose above a large sideboard and standard with the blue and gold National Society of Colonial Dames in America flag. The next images show:

  1. A close-up of the Chinese Export porcelain showing a white china dessert service with a blue cobalt and gilt border and an armorial crest and initials.
  2. Another view of the Federal-style Sideboard with a pair of mahogany knife boxes and cut-glass Epergne placed on top of the sideboard. The Epergne was used display fruits on dining tables.  
  3. A close up of one of the sideboard’s oval brass handles decorated with a beehive.
  4. A blue and white porcelain Chinese “made for export” tea service displayed on a round table made of walnut. This table is built with a turning mechanism, called a “birdcage,” and may be tilted and stored against a wall when not in use.

The next view is a closeup of a secretary cabinet made with mahogany veneer and satinwood with glass windows. The image shows:

  1. A collection of cut-glass vases, jars and mugs in the cabinet.
  2. A battered tin box with lid on the secretary. This box was placed in the wall of the Octagon House’s stairway when built in 1861 and discovered when Octagon House was renovated in 1953. It is a time capsule. Inside the box was an ambrotype of the original owners — the McElroy family, newspaper clippings and William McElroy’s “a letter to the future”.

The video then turns to the left side of the first floor with Colonial Period furniture. The house’s French door is open to the side garden. This area includes a corner cabinet with china displayed, a Chippendale-style sofa, two side chairs made of walnut, and a cherry wood and rectangular tea table. Also shown are a drop leaf table, brass candlesticks and wall mirror with ceramic blue and white wall pockets filled with dried flowers. An upholstered “easy” chair made of walnut is to the right of the drop leaf table.

The next image is of a portrait of George Washington shown standing with his white horse beside him.

A close up follows of a “Fire Bucket” made of leather and painted. These were used to put out fires in New England. This one is dated 1789.

After that is a quick look at the corner cupboard with blue and white glazed and copper edged ceramic coffee and tea service commemorating General Lafayette’s visit to America in 1824.

Staircase and Second Floor  

The next image shows the stair case with turned bannister rising up to the second floor

At the staircase’s landing there is an oil painting of Daniel Webster by the artist, Charles Loring Elliott.

Arriving at the second floor the view is of the upstairs foyer and doorways to two of four rooms. Following are several images of objects in the foyer, including:

  1. The High Chest made of maple with brass handles and a close up of carved fan motif on the front of a drawer.
  2. A pair of framed silhouettes made in 1829 depicting a young man (age 16) in a top hat and young woman (age 13) with a hat with vertical feather plume.
  3. Silhouette of standing woman in colonial dress holding a tea cup.
  4. Silhouette of a courting couple. She is holding flowers and he is wearing a top hat.
  5. Oil Portrait of a Mrs. Mary Appleton made about 1840. She is wearing a lace trimmed bonnet and lace collar with a black ribbon tied around the neck.

The next views are of the circular staircase up to the cupola and directly above the second-floor foyer: the interior view of cupula with eight windows, one for each side of the Octagon providing natural lighting all day.

Following are closeups of toys in the Child’s Room. This room has a triangular floor plan and a large window. Items shown are:

  1. A child’s desk made of walnut and maple. The top is open to reveal the writing table.
  2. A 26-inch-long doll with paper-mâché shoulder and head dressed in style of 1850’s with lace trim and black ribbon. The doll sits in a ladderback rocking chair.
  3. A child’s wood walker with wheels used to support babies to walk before their legs were strong enough to support them.
  4. Rocking cradle made of walnut ca. 1850.
  5. Doll’s small poster bed with canopy and coverlet ca. 1850.
  6. Two toys: a woolly sheep on wheels and cow nursing calf made of wood.

The next images are of the Signers or Card Room. This room is square and has two large windows lighting it. In the center of the room is a table and 4 chairs. One wall has bookcases and across the room are two display cases. Closeups of objects in the rooms include:

  1. Books about American and Colonial furniture on shelves.
  2. Two clay smoking pipes on table with a reproduction set of Lanterloo playing cards ca. 1775. This was a gambling game and features anti-monarchy sentiments by Americans at the time.
  3. The two display cases holding a collection of Signatures including documents signed by Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams and Robert Treat Paine.
  4. Framed set of the Lanterloo playing card set and the designs in the diamond and spade card suits.
  5. Traveling desk made of mahogany made in two sections. The top opens out for writing. On the desk are a candle holder and quill pen.

The next room in the virtual tour is the Library. This room is square and features two large windows with a tasseled swag drape across.  Three walls have book shelves. The following items are shown:

  1. In the center of the room is a table with the following items: telescope, microscope, two wine glasses on a mahogany tray and an open scrap book.
  2. The book, Exhibition Catalogue of Colonial and Early American Art, by the NSCDA Resident in the State of California, 1937
  3. A framed pair of pistols and spurs are above the door to hallway.
  4. To the right of the doorway is a 23 by 16.5-inch banner featuring George Washington.
  5. Close to the door is a framed single bullet mold.
  6. The next item is a close up of the pair of pistols and spurs. 

The last room off of the second-floor foyer is the Bedroom. This room is square and features two large windows across from the door. Within the room the virtual tour displays:

  1. Two wood side chairs with rush seats.
  2. Blue covered press bed also called a “half tester” The tester is the frame on top decorated with blue and white checkered curtains.
  3. In the corner is a wash stand with water jug, bowl and linens.
  4. On the bed is a pair of embroidered red leather slippers.
  5. To the right of the bed is a wooden armchair with rush seat.
  6. A close-up of a needlework sampler showing in detail the letters of the alphabet.
  7. Another close-up of needlework with a green floral border and the signature Jane Green 1827
  8. Near the door is an upholstered easy chair and framed crewelwork depicting flowers on the wall above.
  9. To the right of the easy chair is a high chest probably made of cherry with brass handles and cabriole legs.

The Garden

The virtual tour then moves back downstairs to exit Octagon House through the French Door towards the Garden. The following are images of the garden:

  1. A close-up of a bird bath with the Octagon House reflected in the water.
  2. An overview of boxwood hedges and paths centered around the bird bath.
  3. The path and stairs leading up to Octagon house lined with boxwood
  4. A view of the two-story house from the garden path.

Credits

The next image is that of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America’s Great American Treasures Logo. The Octagon House is one of many historic buildings in the Great American Treasures. Please go to https://www.greatamericantreasures.org/ for more information.

The final image is The National Society of The Colonial Dames of California Logo and the State of California Seal with the following Thank You and Credits to:

NSCDA of California
Octagon House, San Francisco, CA
Sarah Heatwole, President NSCDA-CA
Ruth Donohugh, Honorary President & Co-Chair Octagon House Mgt. Committee

Ashley Crichton, Videographer and Photographer (www.ashleycrichton.com)

Music is American Colonial composer, John Fredrich Peter: Quintet No. 1 in D
courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways Music.

 

nscda-ca.org