This is a beautiful home, one of the most photographed homes in the country. It's a beautiful example of Queen Anne Victorian architecture. The home was finished in 1889, and was built for lumber baron William Carson. He and his family lived in the home for many years. It was in danger of demolition, as maintaining such large historic homes became costly. A group of local businessmen bought the home in 1950, and turned it into a private club. They have since spent millions and millions of dollars to restore and maintain the home. While it is absolutely beautiful from the outside, unfortunately, it is not open for tours. However, if you happen to know a member of the club, or if you are invited to an event such as a wedding, office party, etc. at the mansion, you can get a tour. It's a very nice home on the inside, and the highlight is the cupola at the very top, which Mr. Carson used to observe his business interests. If you would like to see what the inside looks like, you can Google the phrase , "Carson mansion interior." read more

Carson Mansion - They always light it up very nice for the holidays. - Local Flavor Near Me - Eureka, California

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Beautiful Victorian architecture! Went up north for the Memorial Day weekend for the redwoods but had to make a stop to check out the famous Carson Mansion. Love the green tones of the home and varying rooflines. At first I was surprised that there was no placard with a summary of the place but then I noticed a small sign. It was fun to see the sign at the front of the gate that had a QR code to scan and it'll take you to a Spotify listening to learn about the history of the place. Very cool, because this way you can listen to the history of it via your phone at either the site at that moment or even play it on the drive back. It was unique and something I haven't seen before! We took our time and appreciated the view because if you turn to the left you can also observe the water and pedestrian walkway corridors in town. If you're in Eureka and even only have 5-10 minutes to spare, I recommend swinging by the Carson Mansion to get a taste of high quality architecture, unique views, and a lil history moment! read more

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Amazing Architecture! It's definitely a Mansion you would want to see in person! Sadly you can't go inside because you have to be a member, but still a good place to visit and take a picture of! read more

It's was nice to see a historical location , the architecture was very beautiful in person. read more

Carson Mansion - Local Flavor Near Me - Eureka, California

It was cool to finally see Carson Mansion in person after seeing so many pictures over the years. The architecture of this house is just stunning. Carson Mansion is a large Queen Anne style Victorian house in old Eureka that was built in the late 1800's. It is named after multimillionaire lumberman William Coleman Carson. Carson Mansion is four stories and has eighteen rooms. As amazing as this place is to look at, it has this cool creepy vibe to it. The carvings throughout the mansion were handcrafted by wood carvers from around the world. This place is currently owned and occupied by the Ingomar Club. You cannot enter the mansion because it is private property. But photographs are allowed from the surrounding sidewalk. If you want to see the inside of Carson Mansion, you can take a virtual tour on the Ingomar Club website. This is one of the most photographed Victorian houses in the U.S. Across the street is another Queen Anne style Victorian house called the "Pink Lady" which William Carson gifted to his son. I'm a big architecture junkie and appreciate seeing places like this. A must-stop if you are in the Eureka area. It is said that the clock tower at Disneyland's train station was influenced by Carson Mansion. read more

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The Carson Mansion was once owned by lumber baron, William Carson and is said to be a prime example of Victorian architecture in the United States. Now owned by a private club since 1950, the Ingomar Club the building is closed to the public as far as entering the house and the grounds but photo taking from the sidewalk is acceptable to do. You can get various angles of the house just walking down the sidewalk for your photos but it's such a noticeable building in Eureka you can also get vantage points from a distance of the Oldtown area and Woodley Island. Definitely something to see as you take in sights around town. Small children may find the outing tiresome and not enjoy the majestic building but it's something you can totally regulate your time as far as how long you are taking pictures read more

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"Look but Don't Touch" We drove around Old Town Eureka and briefly stopped to admire this ornate Queen Anne style architecture Victorian house. Yup, supposedly this house is the most photographed Victorian home in the U.S. No public tours but you can do a virtual tour on their website. It took two years to build this home for one of NorCal's lumber tycoon, William Carson. If I can only be a fly on the wall to see the detailed work inside, the beautiful stained glass designs and carved ornaments in exotic woods. The Grand staircase and the second floor hallway displayed a lot of the intricate wood work (I viewed the virtual tour on their website). The property now belongs to a private hoity-toity Ingomar Club and continues to draw gawkers like me where we can only get exterior shots of the green-toned mansion. One can be a member by invitation only. There is an initiation fee of $3,500. ¯\_('~')_/¯ Across the street is also another Queen Anne Victorian Carson House known as the "Pink Lady." A plaque in front of the property relates the history of the home (see photo). Well, that's about it... it's creepy beautiful. Review #2516 read more

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When your in Eureka,Ca you do want to stop by and see one of the most photographed Victorian houses in the Queen Anne style, it's a colorful, stunning mansion with plenty of parking outside the grounds for a multitude of camera angles. Construction started in 1884 and was completed in 1886 at a cost of $80,000. William Carson was for whom the mansion was built , he started out as a gold miner and the contracted to provide logs to the mills being built around Humboldt Bay. The mansion is a little over 16,000 square feet and my self and my wife have been lucky enough to be invited to a private event at the Mansion, it is as beautiful inside as it is outside. The mansion is now owned by the Ingomar Club which is a private club and they maintain the mansion and its grounds , its beautiful! A must see, highly recommended read more

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After taking a random trip to Eureka, my fiance and I decided to Google things to do in Eureka. The Carson Mansion was listed as one of the popular sightseeing attractions, so we decided to pay it a visit. The mansion itself is simply breathtaking, to say the least. You, unfortunately, can't tour the inside of the mansion unless you're in a member of a club. However, you can only imagine how divine the inside looks. There is a plaque nearby with a brief history of the original owner of the mansion and the history of its "daughter mansion" across the street. read more

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Excuse me...EXCUSE ME! Are you a member of the Ingomar Club? I heard only members can go inside, and I've been wanting to see what it's like. No, I'm not a weirdo. Really. Hello?... HELLO? Well, it's a bummer that true plebeians like me can't enter the portal of this monumentally ornate but relatively tasteful Victorian building. It was constructed with redwood in 1884 for a major lumber baron named William Carson. Presumably he got the wood for free... or at least wholesale. It's probably Eureka's defining landmark. OK, it's Eureka's only landmark. I think I only became aware of it when I saw a 1970's-era movie where Henry Winkler plays a Vietnam War veteran obsessed with coming here with Sally Field. This was the establishing shot to show they made it. I did, too, but they still won't let me in. RELATED - Taking an adventure in this part of Northern California? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2A1YVjy read more

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A stunning masterpiece! This beautiful Victorian Mansion was once the original living quarters of Forty-niner William Carson. It was constructed back in 1884 by William and his wife Sarah and designed by the Newsom Brothers of San Francisco. It has since been renovated but continues to keep its' unique Queen Anne Victorian architecture. The Ingomar Club has owned the mansion since 1950 and it is closed to the general public. Only members of the Ingomar Club are allowed access inside. Although this is the case, the external view is absolutely breathtaking! It seriously looks like something out of a storybook. I would have loved to have gone on a tour of the inside, but the view of the exterior alone is worth the stop. There are also several other gorgeous Victorian houses that are walking distance from the mansion that mustn't be missed. There's not really a designated parking lot. Since you can only view the exterior, people don't stay here for very long. You can just simply park your car on the side of the road for a few minutes while you admire the mansion and take pictures. It's located in the Old Town District of Eureka. Worth a stop if your already in the area. read more

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What a magnificent historical place! First time visiting Eureka and what a treat! My nephew and niece in love were married at this amazing place and it was truly magical! The staff were incredible, the food was simply delicious and we had a great time!!! I had no idea that it's a private club so I definitely feel HONORED to have been able to see this beauty in person and celebrate with our family a special day at a magical place that we will remember for years to come! read more

Great location to visit and photograph. Must see location to visit while in town. Bring a jacket lol.

Beautiful building for sightseeing if you're in the area but not worth going out of your way to see if not, simply because you cannot get very close or go inside. It's a private club and you must be a member to enter the grounds or the building. Its their way of preserving the property. After poking around a bit on the internet it looks like you might be able to arrange a tour in advance, but you have to reach out to the club to do so. It's not something you can just pop in and do. If we were to return to Eureka I'd certainly try to do this because the building is stunning. But if you're in Old Eureka, give it a gander. The Carson Mansion and the Pink Lady across the street are architectural beauties worth preserving and viewing. read more

Carson Mansion - Local Flavor Near Me - Eureka, California

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Beautiful House / Mansion, stunning views from different angles, It is a private club now but just to see it live was nice enough for me.

The Carson Mansion built around 1890 is a must do while you're in Eureka. It's a quick drive there and only takes a couple minutes to take a few good pictures and take in the Victorian architecture of this beautiful place. It's also easy to find on any gps or phone. This place is a members only of the Ignomar Club so you're unable to gain entry inside unless you're a member or know a member. They don't do any tours so you can only appreciate this place and it's intricate architecture from the outside. Try stopping by in the evening as the sun is setting to get some eerie pictures. There are also other Victorian homes to look at in the area while you're driving on by. This place could make a lot of money if they offered tours inside the home. read more

Carson Mansion - Go In The Evening For The Best Shots! - Local Flavor Near Me - Eureka, California

The mansion is impressive looking from the outside. It's obviously been well kept. But since you can't really go onside it's just okay. read more

Carson Mansion - Local Flavor Near Me - Eureka, California

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Well I'm giving 5 stars for the house itself, it's a Queen Anne Victoria built by a lumber baron for chrissake. I actually have a Victoria house coloring book with the Carson Mansion in it, and the description reads: "The house features 'aggressively frightful' ornamental carving and stained glass...it has become famous because it is almost a parody of a Victorian house". How could you not be won over? The house is in impeccable condition, partly because it's never fallen into disrepair, instead it has always been maintained. Since 1905 it's belonged to a private club, the Ingomar Club, which does not allow public access to the grounds or house. It's a social club that exists to preserve the mansion so it's members can enjoy it. They don't allow women members and there have been sexual harassment allegations made by former employees. I'm happy that the house is preserved, and can acknowledge that private money is responsible for that, but the backstory is definitely off putting. I was intrigued that another Yelper mentioned being given a tour when she reached out to the club, but no pictures were allowed. Not sure what all the secrecy is about! The mansions website does have a gallery of professional photos you can look through, and this is definitely a must see. Along with the photos is more information about interior features, furniture, building materials, and historical facts about the family who built and lived in the house originally. read more

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Elegant, unique and stunning up close of from afar. Private Club. Was a private men's club until the mid 1980's Built in 1886 by Mr William Carson. The story goes, hundreds of men were out of work during a nationwide economic recession. Carson provided work for many of the unemployed to construct this home for his family. In 1950, local businessman and created a private club and bought the building. Said to be the most often photographed home in America. read more

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Don't know what this mansion is all about. Private club. Go to their website for all the intriguing details!! breathtaking in design beauty and color.a great place to stop and see it's immaculate grounds paint and just the feel of its overall magnificence read more

Carson Mansion - that is intricate and it's detail is a architectural find. Built in 1885. - Local Flavor Near Me - Eureka, California

CARSON MANSION ALMOST DEMOLISHED! The last William Carson heirs to reside in the Mansion moved to San Francisco in the late 1940s leaving the Mansion unoccupied. When the heirs could not find a buyer for the elaborate and finely crafted Mansion in 1949, it was at risk of being demolished in order to develop the prime multi-acre site for alternate uses. Even the City of Eureka declined the opportunity to purchase this unique, historically significant piece of property due to the high cost of maintaining the Mansion. During the same time period, Mr. J.H. Crothers and Mr. Carl Gustafson were holding a series of meetings with other Eureka businessmen to discuss the formation of a men's club in Eureka comparable to those in other progressive communities. One meeting brought forth the suggestion that the historic Carson Mansion at 143 M St., Eureka, might possibly be obtained for a clubhouse. This proved to be true. An option to purchase the Carson property was obtained from the owners in October 1949. The purchase was formally completed early in 1950, and the new club was modeled after the long established "Humboldt Club" of which William Carson was a founding member. Since that time, Ingomar Club members have embraced stewardship of the property spending several million dollars of private funds to improve and maintain the Mansion and its grounds. William Carson's partner, John Dolbeer, revolutionized the logging business with his mechanical talent. In 1881, he patented the "Dolbeer Steam Logging Donkey" which modernized logging by replacing manpower with machine power (shown at right). The Dolbeer and Carson Lumber Company prospered. They bought up some of the finest timberland, kept pace with the latest equipment, and they continued to prosper as logging methods and transportation improved. By the 1890s, they owned several lumber mills, held an interest in the rail lines and in sailing vessels to insure the transport of their lumber. Dolbeer and Carson were instrumental in incorporating the Eel River and Eureka Railroad Companies. They helped build the Bucksport and Elk River Railroads and held interests in the Humboldt Northern Railroad. The major destination for lumber was San Francisco, but they shipped all over the world. To insure retail outlets Dolbeer and Carson held interests in other California lumber companies that produced finished lumber products such as molding, trim, and doors. They had diverse holdings as well, including oil fields and other non-lumber business ventures. Mr. Carson invested in many community enterprises, including the Humboldt Bay Woolen Mills and the Humboldt Shoe Factory. Mr. Carson was one of the founders of the Humboldt County Bank, the Bank of Eureka, and the Savings Bank of Humboldt County. When the local Chamber of Commerce was organized in 1883, he became a member and was appointed to its Board of Directors. At his death, his fortune was estimated to be twenty million dollars. Mr. Carson had a reputation of treating his employees well. He paid adequate wages, reduced the working hours, and had the respect of his fellow men. Carson's men were also very well fed and cared for. One day a fellow lumberman said to him, "Mr. Carson, you feed your men entirely too well, much better than any of the other concerns on the Bay." Respected by the entire community, Mr. Carson never failed to lend help to the less fortunate. All of his charities were not made public, but after his death, his will contained 116 beneficiaries, many company employees, as well as churches, hospitals and other community agencies. read more

Carson Mansion - Local Flavor Near Me - Eureka, California

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The Carson Mansion is apparently now a private club. It is an imposing architectural structure. The house is situated near the waterfront and there is also a lovely pink house across from it. I can't help wonder what it is like inside. I wish someone would buy this and convert it to an art museam. read more

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One of the most fascinating Victorian houses out there! Sad how at one point the family/house was at the pinnacle of society and now it's sold to a private club. Pity that's it's exclusive and you can't go in. They're missing out on lucrative tourist money... read more

Beautiful mansion , it looks like small castle . Just in front of it is 'pink lady ' . Just take a small walk and u will find beautiful views of pacific . Only prob is u can't enter this cute looking mansion , as its a club with entry to only private members . read more

Carson Mansion - Mansion,can't go inside ,only for private members - Local Flavor Near Me - Eureka, California

Carson Mansion - something to take a pic of in Eureka. It's a cool looking building, but you can't go in because it's a Private Club, unless you're a member. I took several pics and the Victorian house across the street from it nicknamed The Pink Lady. read more

I don't get the craze about this place. You can't go in. Unless you are super into Victorian mansions, I wouldn't bother. The bay and surrounding area are much kinder to the eye than this monument to an era with many flaws. read more

It's an amazing home but u can't go inside. U drive all that way to sit outside and enjoy the beauty of the house.

One afternoon, I was sitting a work, wondering where to take my Mother for our weekend adventures. During her visit. Looking to my AAA Huell Howser map for inspiration I saw this place. I read the blurb on the back and was intrigued. I found it on yelp, and then saw all the people saying how pretty it was, but that you couldn't go into the place. Hrm. So, I followed the links, and shot an email over to the club who maintains the place. I politely asked if a tour could be arranged for my visiting Mother and I. Figuring the absolute worst that would happen is I'd not get a reply. Or perhaps be told "Nope, sorry." However, much to my delight, I got a reply from the President of the club informing me that on the date I had asked about, I was informed a docent would be waiting on the front steps of the place for Mom and I. Thank you good sir, thank you. After a grueling 12 hour marathon drive on insanely perilous 'advanced level driving' roads, we soon found ourselves standing in front of this magnificent house at the prearranged time. (In Mom's defense, the 36 freeway looked like a perfectly good road on the map) We were greeted and welcomed into the place by the President whom I had emailed, and the expert level Docent. They asked that we didn't photograph anything for the sake of anonymity. But led us on an incredibly informative two hour tour of the amazing building. Not to go into too much detail, but the inside of the place is just as amazing as the outside. The history of the house was rich and wonderful and I left with knowledge about something I hadn't even realized existed until a week or so prior. Absolutely Incredible. Thank you to the Carson Mansion, Thank you to the Ingomar Club. I do hope to be back. read more

Carson Mansion - The Mansion - Local Flavor Near Me - Eureka, California

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Had a wonderful lunch of dungeness crab sandwiches while sitting at the huge window overlooking Humboldt Bay. Afterward took a self guided tour of the house. Want to do the same? Join the club or become a member of a reciprical club. I am a member of the Marines Memorial Club of San Francisco. If you are a veteran you can join and parktake in seeing the Carson House from the inside and not standing at the fence looking in. read more

Think this house and the grounds are beautiful and worth driving by and reading about its history, just a shame that people can't access it being a private club. It would be nice for the community if they maybe offered a day or a few hours out of week for public tours. read more

You can't go inside, but it's lovely on the outside and worth a quick stop. Nice view of the bay as well. The pictures here don't do it justice. The details are amazing! Can't believe at one time no one wanted it! read more

Just spent my dad's 70th birthday here Saturday night. Just would like to thank the staff for being so good to our friends, family and most of all my dad(David Jones Sr). Last time I had dinner here was 18 years ago for my 21st birthday & and I am glad to say that the food and service is still amazing. Maybe it was just the time of year, but we had the entire dinning area and staff to ourselves. The president also gave our guests a personal tour! Thank you so much for giving our family and friends such a special night!! Highly recommend a birthday party here to any members who haven't experienced one. read more

Very impressive architecture...really wish we could go in. Beautiful to drive or walk by an admire.

Came by here yesterday while passing by eureka on our way home yesterday. Had seen it online as a must see place so was glad to see it in person. It looked pretty cool and the surrounding areas are clean and well maintained. Too bad you can't go inside unless you are a member. Snapped a few shots and left. Total time spent there was probably about 3 minutes. read more

This is a quick detour. Amazing architecture. If you have the time and you like architecture, you'll see multiple Victorian houses/neighborhood in this area. As others have wrote, it's privately owned and not opened to the public. read more

I just love having lunch at the Ingomar whenever I get the chance. The food is always up to par & the atmosphere is lovely. It's a bit formal yet relaxing. No complaints here. One of the very few nicer establishments in Eureka these days. I always ask to be seated near the windows facing the bay. The crab cakes are delish. Highly recommended. read more

Just WOW! Must see, but must be a member or guest to see inside. The outside view is worth the trip!

Three stars only because I'd love to see inside and couldn't. (It's not open to the public). If you love Victorian mansions, this is a must see. read more

If you are stopping in Eureka and want to take a quick break, than stop by the second most photographed house in the USA and take a snapshot. If you don't have the time, just take a look at the picture below and it pretty much sums it up. read more

Beautiful, meticulously maintained building and grounds. Fun to imagine the family living here, receiving guests as they pulled their carriage through the circle driveway and entering via the wide steps to the portico. Surely entertaining was a spectacular delight. read more