The Lost Mark Hopkins Mansion on San Francisco's Nob Hill

Dive deep into the heart of San Francisco's Nob Hill where the Mark Hopkins Mansion, a symbol of luxury and tragedy, once stood. Join Ken as he explores the captivating story of ambition, love, betrayal, and loss surrounding this legendary estate. From its grand beginnings to its untimely demise in the 1906 earthquake, discover the hidden tales and unseen interiors of one of history's most extravagant homes.
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Location: San Francisco
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Public Domain Photos from: Library of Congress,
CC BY 2.0 Photos from: Flickr User: Jeffrey Pang
CC BY-SA 3.0Photos from: Wikipedia User: David Kolifrath
Assets from: Envato Elements
Music from Epidemic Sound

[@BusyBob6971]

Of all the houses this is my pick. Some how "reduced to ashes" under the circumstances is easier to bear than wreaking ball. Thank you.

[@wdjones4735]

Mansion Madness was genius! I had so much fun playing👍🏻 Thank you for being so creative and sharing 🙂

[@christywells2707]

Likewise. Played every day during my lunch break. Can't wait til March to play again, but I hope he finds a lot more great mansions.

[@christywells2707]

Really...he's added a lot of joy to my life which is no small contribution.

[@brandyjean7015]

Top of the Mark in San Francisco is still grand.

[@gerardolsen9823]

Wow! What damage! The city recovered, but so much was lost. Too bad for this mansion. What a loss!

[@susannewendlandt5432]

I love these great old villas. They are reminicent of the Gilded Age ♥️.

[@winkieblink7625]

I was actually surprised it got more votes than Northfield Chateau. As an EPIC structure Mark Hopkins cut costs when he didn’t have to. He built his mansion on Nob Hill TOTALLY out of WOOD when all the other mansions were being built of stone, marble, granite, cement, etc. It lasted 28 years before being burned to rubble during the aftermath destruction of the 1906 SF earthquake. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FUN CONTEST and showing us the world of the U.S. Golden Age of Mansions.

[@marsco2442]

🎉😢this is actually not true. Houses were built out of wood because it was known to be safer in an earthquake, and the area had already had minor earthquakes. The nextdoor Stanford mansion was switched from stone to wood at the planning stage for exactly this safety concern.

[@winkieblink7625]

@@marsco2442 ……and then they ALL burned down except the stone mansions. Lol. Nob Hill was thought to be the safest place in SF because it’s literally a promontory rock. Who could have guessed the mansions would burn! The homes were gorgeous. Brick was pretty much banned in building usage after 1906 earthquake but large stone/granite within specific code was still allowed. Interesting,….the Fairmont Hotel’s exterior was built of stone on Nob Hill and the fire literally gutted the whole 6-10 stories…(guestimate). I’m sure you can find picture archives somewhere. It was the only structure left standing on Nob Hill after the fire except the Flood Mansion that is still in use today.

[@mr.x8259]

It is well-deserved as the winner.

[@jenpink4298]

Thank you for doing mansion madness! It was so much fun! And thank you for doing this follow up! It was a beautiful room, but I cannot even imagine living there.

[@danielnichols7817]

That house was a marvel indeed. It would’ve been so cool to see it today as a historic home to tour. Interesting you bring up the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. I just read the I survived version to my class in library. We talked about the devastation that earthquake caused in 45 seconds. And how a completely changed the landscape of San Francisco. We talked about, what it would look like today if the earthquake never happened. With all the historic homes and buildings being intact. I super appreciate the work you do in the research of these videos and keeping the history alive.

[@Olivia-xd7et]

Oh my! This is my dream home ❤

[@karenroot450]

As long as you get maids and a butler

[@sheilakirby5616]

ABSOLUTELY MY FRIEND ❣️ BUT JUST IMAGINE THE COST'S OF THE UPKEEP AND TAXES 🤔🤨😵‍💫🤬

[@kendranewton9071]

OMG that stair hall was magnificent.

[@christywells2707]

Did you just luckily get blessed with a great voice over voice? The sordid history doesn't detract from the Mark Hopkins' grandeur.

[@jimsmith77901]

I love this house! I think it may be my favorite. If i were to win a huge lottery jackpot, i think I'd build one identical to it here in my South Texas town. I'm sure they'd call it Smith's Folly, but i wouldn't care, it would kick ass of all the other local rich people's houses, which are all modern and so so boring.

[@deebee2709]

Mansion Madness was great!!! I'm missing it already! 😢

[@patricialong5767]

Utterly magnificent!!!

[@Kev88-wf8no]

Def a worthy winner

[@winkieblink7625]

Mansion Madness was so much fun. Thank you! I wish the MH still stood. How magnificent it would be to see.

[@myrrhkablam]

This was so much fun! Your content is some of my favorite: I love the details you provide from your research and your commentary!

[@susanpolastaples9688]

Magnificent and the Mark Hopkins Hotel in SF is lavish and a fitting tribute to the railroad magnate.

[@sandybbrmi4570]

That was one of the juicier tales of the owners😱

[@scottdeluca2929]

What a shame that mansion was lost!!!!

[@mailjabber]

A worthy mansion was selected by a fine field of competitors! Let the madness continue next year!

[@jodyrewa688]

That clock was so cool 😎

[@BellaCroyda]

A great Great GREAT LOSS. I love mansions.

[@marybooth3138]

My daughter lives in Henderson NY.. Im about 15 miles away. There is basically nothing there but the beautiful Lake Ontario . Was shocked to see thats where he kicked and came from!

[@glennjeffers9692]

Going to share on some of the pages 🎯💥💯🇺🇸🇨🇦👊👍🤟🤙🤘🙏

[@StamperWendy]

What a pioneer! Thanks, Ken!

[@tjanderson575]

What a clever idea for a series. Congratulations on its success!

[@craiggillett5985]

Mansion madness has been great. I definitely love the winner simply because of sheer scale and intricacy

[@timmyc7898]

Thank for sharing the history of the Mark Hopkins home in San Francisco. As you drew the line of his travels from New York to California you passed over St. Clair Michigan home to 2 Hopkins mansions built by Mark and his brother I believe. Both homes still stand today as private residences. Thank you.

[@litamtondy]

I predicted that the winner of the Astor-Hopkins vote would win it all! The Hopkins is so magical.

[@jencisick]

Thank you!! This was fun and informative along the way 😊

[@michaelwalter3399]

San Francisco's answer to Hogwarts Castle.

[@cindirose3390]

In the Crocker (Mansion) Art Museum in Sacramento, California, a huge portait of Mark Hopkins is on exhibit as part of the big four exhibit room.

[@oltedders]

I bowed out of mansion madness when it became, all too soon, apparent that the subscribers were less than educated about what makes for good architectural design but loves exuberance and eccentricity above all. Everyone clearly had a wonderful time with the process. Kudos for offering up such an engaging way of showing off the domestic pride of the 19th century to those of us, your audience!

[@curiousfirely]

As one of those people with uneducated exuberance, I would love a video series on what makes good architectural design. I am happy to learn more!

[@marsco2442]

😮 taste in the United States is informed by Tiktok and Disney movies, moreso than academic opinion. If they were academically educated in America they would be currently taught to dislike anything before world war II, mostly by professors educated in the 1960s.

[@DannyKoKo]

Thanks much

[@markwagner4909]

What a horrible ending to such a beautiful home

[@divinedaytripper6916]

Well you hit another one out of the ballpark. Fascinating. I had no idea that Mark Hopkins died so young.

[@sheilakirby5616]

WHAT A LOSS 💔

[@johnmiller8975]

@This House How about a garden challenge next? Longwood or Biltmore just to name two

[@davidbrims5825]

It reminds me slightly of Peles Castle in Romania in its over the topness.

[@djao2008]

I'd love to see that castle too!

[@petersguazzato8291]

The architects in those days were brilliant and the people who worked with them to construct those buildings were brilliant tradesmen

[@expoguy2]

There is a very slight possibility that had the Mary Searles Gallery not been added on to the west side of the property that the mansion might have survived the 1906 fire, as it was the west wall of the gallery that caught fire and spread to the rest of the mansion on the morning of April 19th, 1906.

[@mikenixon2401]

You correctly described this by saying "Over the top." Good report, Ken. BTW, I like the way you included your regular viewers, even if I didn't win. LOL Have a great week. Be a blessing.

[@edwardblack8532]

Yes!! I was hoping for a greater deepdive on the winner

[@clairwaucaush7225]

Another mansion gone, this time to ashes. That would have been one great house to see and explore. So tragic it's gone. Even had it survived the fire some jerks would have some along and tore it down anyway!

[@andyputch]

This one is going to be niche but I'd highly recommend Kragsyde for future Mansion Madness brakets! Beautiful home inspired by another epic, "Cragside" in the UK.

[@DOMINICSIMONE-uy9yf]

Searles Castle in Great Barrington Massachusetts is now a private school so have never been able to see the inside; but it's even more impressive than the Hopkins Mansion!

[@JamesKaufman1973]

I don't know what is worse, the loss of the building or the loss of the artwork inside.

[@flamingchillum]

nice

[@satiamarwan7744]

Thanks Mansion Madness.. This is truly fun game that involved so many great buildings..👍👍

[@tikibarman5]

A few viewers have asked if this is where the Mark Hopkins hotel is now located. It is inseed. The mansion fronted on to California street; immediately to the right as you look at the mansion is Mason street (and one of the most vertical stretches in SF. The Stanford mansion was immediately to the left of the Hopkins mansion, at California and Powell streets. 0:38

[@justintime7872]

That's the kind of Mansion that Walt Disney wanted to capture in the"Haunted Mansion " classic grandiose

[@chadsimmons6347]

Mansion owner dead before mansion construction completed?,,,,I hate when that happens! (thankx-4-uploading)

[@ryanwesolowski5787]

God I wish I knew what that glass conservatory looked like inside

[@sjwilloughby-greene8214]

Well this didn't end well. 😔

[@eddiebradham5201]

Not sure if this would be of interest to you, but have you ever considered doing a video of danielle steels house, Spreckles Mansion in san francisco? It's an amazing house

[@kathyschauer2114]

I enjoyed this!! Thanks

[@caroleinwv]

Thank you! This was fun!

[@silverstem2964]

Astor mansion docs are numerous and familiarity was its downfall in this contest.

[@josepinheiro6064]

The Gilded Age was not just New York but in the west. Like today's Gilded Age set in Silicon Valley.

[@museumtimekeeper]

Here is one for you. The original Breakers mansion built by Peabody & Sterns for Pierre Lorillard in Newport RI. Later purchased by Cornelius Vanderbilt II and replaced by the current Breakers designed by R M. Hunt. Perhaps you can dredge up interior photos?

[@jg90049]

The gateway and retaining wall are still standing.

[@garygloska7396]

Scandalous

[@bludeetu321]

There is a castle on the hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the little town of Pacifica California. I would love to know how it got there...

[@cbigjack]

Would you have a printout/PDF of the competition sheet of those houses/mansions viewers voted for? I’m just curious. Thank you.

[@deniseconsultant1538]

They rebuilt it as a hotel? Is the hotel still open? Shamefully I’m a San Francisco native and I’m living about an hour outside of San Francisco down at the beach and I can’t remember if it’s still open.

[@ElysiaTaylor]

Ok, got it, such a shame.

[@ben-andyhein7497]

Nob Hill is hardly "the tallest point in San Francisco" while it does overlook much of the eastern part of the city from Fisherman's Wharf to S of Market.. At 376 feet, it's only just over 40% of the height of the 3 tallest peaks in SF: Mt Sutro at 911', Twin Peaks 922' and Mt Davidson, the tallest, at 928'. More of the city was built in the view of Nob Hill at the point of the earthquake since it obstructs some of the view from the others, but it simply isn't the tallest point in the city and certainly was not at the building of the Mark Hopkins Mansion. Twin Peaks could arguably be said to look over more of "built up SF" at the time of the earthquake while also looking over the western districts of the city which were basically empty until the completion of the Twin Peaks Tunnel in 1917 allowed the Muni Railroad to serve that area and housing began to develop there. Telegraph Hill at 285' and Russian Hill at 343' All of the above are in the Seven Hills of San Francisco [like Rome, everyone wanted 7 hills], but there were perhaps at least EIGHT because Rincon Hill and Lone Mountain are included. And there are at least 43 named hills in SF based on articles in the SF Chronicle that were included in Gladys Hansen's "San Francisco Almanac: Everything you want to know about The City" [1980] where she added the 43rd, Cathedral Hill. But the list of hills in Wikipedia is 51 entries long [two for Twin Peaks] and is stated to be "incomplete"! 27 of those are TALLER than Nob Hill. Rincon Hill however, is the shortest of all at only 100', but it is right on Yerba Buena Cove so to early settlers, it was pretty tall and a pleasant place to live. Even Mint Hill [behind Maryanne Singleton's Safeway on Market in Tales of the City] is taller at only 157'. But Rincon is the shortest and Mt Davidson is the tallest.

[@user-re9ht6yj4i]

It was the ultimate Victorian mansion. It cost about $2,500,000. Herters wasn’t cheap.

[@FreddySherman]

P was it where the intercontinental Mark Hopkins is today?

[@anthonybianchini5144]

Pretty much my dream house (dream big).

[@jillatherton4660]

👍

[@johnmiller8975]

They had to work around the foundations when they built the hotel -- even dynamite didn't work

[@jimwiskus8862]

Great series Ken! Thank you so much! I’m not sure how you will top this unless it’s something to do with another style of architecture, say Arts & Crafts.

[@ThisHouse]

I’m planning something for special for September, stay tuned!

[@robb2biago]

Yeah! Mansions madness. Thanks for setting everything up.

[@sopwithsnoopy8779]

I wonder what art was lost, being the Mark Hopkins institute of art.

[@visittavee7773]

It was the same one The Hotel Mark Hopkins ?

[@susanpolastaples9688]

OmG is that an organ from a cathedral?

[@jimwadepark1246]

Does anyone know what the original exterior color scheme was?

[@h311cat5]

Hello sir! How much square feet is this home?

[@michaelwells7348]

Someone should colorize these pictures

[@barbaraclark9423]

Loved this “tournament”!

[@judithmitchell4667]

Hello Ken. I loved your "Mansion Madness" idea. It was so fun and interesting. This place is just stunningly beautiful. Breathtaking, really. Thank you for showing it. Have a lovely evening. Blessings - Judith 🎤🎭

[@allisonragan6486]

Antici........pation.

[@wildfireintexas]

Your March madness was fun. I look forward to next year’s event. And thank for the video on the Mark Hopkins house. It’s a shame his widow did not see fit to make a will after her husband died without one. That Searles was a real piece of work.

[@ElysiaTaylor]

Why don't you have recent color photos??????

[@paco7992]

I knew it would be the MH masion! Of those on the list, how many are still standing? Who had the highest rank among the "still standing?

[@ThisHouse]

All the mansions in the competition have been lost to time.

[@paco7992]

@@ThisHouse what a tragedy that we have lost so much of our architectural history.

[@sergpie]

I think you should do a World Cup edition of this competition, with famous mansions/buildings from other countries. March Madness was a blast, and I discovered some new buildings through it. Thank you guys!!!

[@Emily_Paris]

Thank you Ken for the story behind the person who built this magnificent mansion. That 1906 earthquake was a doozy. It’s just a shame so many people were left without their homes and beautiful mansions. I live in California but I would never live in San Francisco even if I were a millionaire. No way!!

[@cindirose3390]

The man died just before it waa finished and so he never gpt to enjoy it?!

[@KarenRose70]

I like the outside but the inside is a bit much. Why does money have to equal tacky?

[@eddieg9032]

Thank you for this competition - great fun (although Hopkins was far from my first choice). Were any of the art treasures saved from devastation?

[@andrewbrendan1579]

Ken, this is a way-out coincidence, but here goes: At 11: 47 the surviving chimney of the Hopkins mansion has a shape or silhouette similar to that of the Glass Tower skyscraper in the disaster movie the "The Towering Inferno" which takes place in San Francisco. In the 1974 movie a fire breaks out in the world's tallest building on the night of its dedication.

[@andytaylor5476]

Never cared much for this structure. Too me, the architecture is overwrought and stylistically disjointed. Overall, heavy, too dark, too much for my taste.

[@devonna6171]

I loved Mansion Madness! I really enjoyed seeing the many beautiful homes and was shocked that I almost always picked the “losing” house! What does that say about my taste? Lol. I am not a fan of Gothic architecture so the Hopkins House was garish and overworked (to my taste). Still, its a shame to lose it like we did.

[@sheilakirby5616]

ENTREPRENIAL INFLUENCE MORE LIKE THE FLEECING OF AMERICA 💔🤍💙

[@gtlfb]

So much time, so much money, so many resources, for something so hideous.

[@jb7287]

Horrible house !

[@barbaraheinbeck4778]

You do talk a little fast. Maybe slow a bit?