monrovia old house tour

Victorian, Craftsman Homes Featured on Monrovia Tour

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Monrovia preservationists will showcase six architecturally significant homes at the 18th annual Old Homes Tour on Sunday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event includes the 113-year-old Victorian-style Idlewild house. The house, constructed by Northern California architects Samuel Cather Newsom and Joseph Cather Newsom, was built for Gen. William Anderson Pile. It’s been repainted in its original colors.

Also on the tour is the Victorian-style Burr House, which was built in 1893 for a reported $2,800, and the Maynard Best House, a Craftsman built in 1908.

The Bliss House, a 1911 Craftsman that was moved by its original owners from a ranch in Duarte to its current location on South Mountain Avenue, will also be shown, along with the Tuft-Baker House, a 1909 Craftsman that is being remodeled.

The event, sponsored by the Monrovia Old House Preservation Group, will include demonstrations by restoration specialists.

Tickets can be purchased through Friday, May 12, at the organization’s booth at Old Town Monrovia’s Family Festival on Myrtle Avenue, Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m. Advance tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $6 for teens.

Tickets on the day of the event can be purchased until 2 p.m. at the Anderson House, 215 E. Lime Ave., Monrovia, for $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $9 for teens.

For more details visit https://www.mohpg.org.

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Monrovia’s 37th Historic Homes Tour

Photography by Larry Marotta

Hosted by the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group, the 37 th Historic Homes Tour offers the public a chance to experience a number of Monrovia’s architectural treasures. Featured on the tour will be six of Monrovia’s “First Houses;” meaning homes built before the end of 1887. The Monrovia Historical Museum and the Anderson House Museum will also be open for viewing. The event, which will take place on Sunday, May 5 th from 10am to 4pm, invites visitors to step back in time to a bygone era where “horseless carriages” cruised the streets of the foothill community. Tour guides stationed at each of the homes will offer stories and anecdotes relating to the architectural gems.

Advance tickets are on sale now and can be purchased from the Online Store . Tickets will also be sold at the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce (620 S. Myrtle Ave), Dollmakers’ Kattywompus (412 S. Myrtle Ave) or Foothill Gym (202 S. Myrtle Ave).

The Historic Homes Tour is not to be missed as it is the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group’s primary fundraiser of the year. The Monrovia Historic Preservation Group is dedicated to preserving Monrovia’s rich architectural heritage. Every year, over 200 volunteers work to make the tour a success. This year visitors can enjoy sweet treats provided by Rivanis Baking Company as well as popcorn from none other than Deasy Penner Podley!

Tags: architecture , deasy penner podley , design , historic preservation , Monrovia , Monrovia Historic Preservation Group

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Things to do in Los Angeles at any age.

Old Town Monrovia is Hometown USA off Historic Route 66

historic buildings , Los Angeles , Things to Do / January 17, 2024 by Rebecca O / Leave a Comment

Old Town Monrovia is 8 miles east of Pasadena just past Arcadia in Los Angeles County. Myrtle Avenue is its historic core lined with vintage brick buildings. Here you’ll find unique boutiques, Mom and Pop shops, and homey restaurants. It’s got an All-American hometown vibe, for sure. Set against the foothills of the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains, it’s a lovely spot to take a stroll.

Watch my video walking tour of Monrovia

Founded by William Monroe

Monrovia was settled in the late 1880s by a group of bankers and railroad men who turned the San Gabriel Valley enclave into a community. The town was named after its first Mayor and founder William Monroe who was superintendent of construction for the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Monroe purchased land and formed the Monrovia Land and Water Company in 1886. Monrovia was officially incorporated on December 15, 1887. It is the fourth oldest general law city in L.A. County. The cities of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Pasadena are older.

The community is quiet and family-centered, and the neighborhood is attractive and friendly.  It still has a small-town feel with only about 37,000 residents.

The Look Theatre

The movie theater on Myrtle opened in 1920 as the Colonial Theatre and was later renamed the Monrovia Theater. Look Cinemas took it over and it is now a modern dine-in movie theatre that serves good food and cocktails.

A beautiful park

Library Park opened on Myrtle Ave. in 1908 and its Carnegie Library served the community for the next 45 years. It was succeeded by the Monrovia Public Library.

The vintage Farmers Club drinking fountain that stands near Myrtle Ave was built in 1919 and is Historic Landmark #159.

Samson the Hot Tub Bear

As you stroll on Myrtle Ave, you may notice several Samson the Hot Tub Bear Statues. They were created to honor a 500-pound bear who made himself at home in Monrovia during the 1990s.

Route 66 hotspot

The ornately decorated Aztec Hotel opened in 1925. It’s an iconic stop on Historic Route 66. Its architect, Robert B. Stacy-Judd built it in the style of the Mayan Pyramids in South America but named it the Aztec Hotel because, at the time, more people were familiar with the Aztec Tribe in Mexico.

A collection of old homes and landmarks

If you drive through the neighborhood, you will see classic Victorian, Craftsman, Revival, and other vintage-style homes. Other landmarks include the Boxx Jeweler’s Street clock (Historic Landmark #36) and the C.O. Monroe House, located at 225 Monroe Place built in 1884. (Historic Landmark #82)

Old Town Monrovia – 119 W. Palm Ave. Monrovia, CA 91016​

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The Monrovia Historical Society

• Anderson House
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The George H. Anderson House in Monrovia.

This time capsule of family life in Monrovia's early days was built in 1886. 

215 E. Lime Avenue. 

The Museum is now open to the public on the 3rd Sunday of each month from 1-4 pm.

Take a 3D Digital Tour Inside

Watch a short video of the anderson house.

Take a peek inside.

Help with Repairs

Thanks to all who made a new roof possible. Watch the process: http://oodles.us.com/ahroofdone/ahroofdone.m4v Watch the backstory leading to this exciting moment:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M195QzvmnKQ.

We need  to continue restoration work -- more painting, shoring up the foundation and more. Please consider donating to the next steps.

The George H. Anderson House

A brief history.

This home at 215 E. Lime Ave. is one of the very first in Monrovia -- built by John Anderson for his family.   He also built the first commercial building in Monrovia –- the Mills Hotel, where prospective settlers often stayed when they inspected land and made plans for homes.

Lots in the new Town of Monrovia were first offered for sale on May 17, 1886.  Two of the first were bought by William Mills, who promptly hired John C. Anderson to build the Mills Hotel (the Monrovia Hotel, as it soon came to be known). 

John Anderson was a Los Angeles contractor. Impressed with promise of the new town, he purchased three lots for himself and built this family home for his wife, Lizzie, son Lewis and the baby on the way, George. George would occupy the home for the rest of his long life.  

John Anderson was active in the business life of his new community, serving on the Monrovia City Council in the early days.  After he died in 1902, Lizzie would live in the home with their son George until her death in 1929.  George, who never married, lived in the house until his death in 1974, nearly 88 years of age.

As a young man, George went to work for the First National Bank of Monrovia.  He remained with the bank for his entire career, retiring as an assistant manager in 1934.  By that time, the First National Bank had become part of the Security Trust and Savings Bank, later to become Security Pacific National Bank.

George left his entire estate to the Security Pacific National Bank as trustee for the California Community Foundation.  His brother Lewis had married, but had no children.  The executor of George’s estate attempted to sell the old family home as part of settling the estate, but years of deferred maintenance discouraged any potential buyers. 

In the meantime, the Historical Committee of the Friends of the Monrovia Public Library had been looking for an early Monrovia house to purchase and restore for the purpose of providing later generations of Monrovians an insight into life in Monrovia in its early days.  The house was also to serve as a depository for early day records, pictures, papers, etc. Learning of the Friend’s interest, the California Community Foundation gave the Friends a grant to purchase the Anderson house for this purpose.  Title to the Anderson House passed to the Friends of the Monrovia Public Library on July 10, 1975, just a year after George’s death.

The Monrovia Historical Society was formed in 1979 to take over the responsibility from the Friends of the Monrovia Public Library, which had come to see it as outside its area of focus.

Under the leadership of the late Brice Tulloss, a restoration committee was formed, and work began.  The restoration was designated as an American Bicentennial project, and won recognition from the National American Bicentennial Committee.  Many civic organizations contributed supplies and volunteer labor for the restoration, and a number of generous individuals donated or loaned period furnishings for the refurbished interior to replace the original furnishings that had been sold to raise funds.  A formal dedication ceremony in memory of Brice Tulloss was held on September 16, 1979.

The Anderson House is open the 3rd Sunday of each month 1-4 pm and by appointment.

Copyright © 2018 Monrovia Historical Society - All Rights Reserved.

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Community Corner

Take a tour of old town monrovia this weekend, the monrovia historic preservation group will host a walking tour through the city's old town area..

Andy Nguyen , Patch Staff

MONROVIA, CA — The Monrovia Historic Preservation Group will hold a walking tour of Old Town this Saturday.

The tour will take participants from the city’s founding in 1886 to the present day, organizers said. The walk will last for two hours and cover eight city blocks.

The cost for the tour is $5 per person. The tour will start at 10 a.m. on the southeast corner of Palm and Myrtle avenues.

Find out what's happening in Monrovia with free, real-time updates from Patch.

For more information about the tour, visit the preservation group’s website .

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Monrovia Old Homes Tour

How come a "2012" built home is on the 'historic homes tour'? I mean it was already laughable was for all intent and purpose the original house was razed in order to build this new one. Yes; the house 'adds character' to the neighborhood -- but it is far from what a 'historic home' is supposed to be. It debases the city's efforts at historic preservation.

Etan Does LA

#137: william n. monroe house (“the oaks” – monrovia).

Added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 6, 1978

Today N. Primrose Avenue in Monrovia is a perfectly lovely suburban street, lined with dozens of single-family homes on small lots with grassy lawns. Back in 1885, there was just one house on the future Primrose Avenue: the William N. Monroe House, aka “The Oaks,” surrounded by citrus orchards and a park.

Monroe was a Civil War veteran and successful railroad builder who counted both the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific as clients at a time when rail was rapidly expanding across the country. He came to Los Angeles in 1875 with his family after completing the construction of the Southern Pacific line from Omaha to LA, and a decade later added “developer” to his resume by purchasing 240 acres of Elias “Lucky” Baldwin’s sprawling land at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Monroe would later co-found Monrovia, give the town its name, become the director of one of a local bank and become its first mayor. 

But first Monroe, his wife Mary Jane and their kids needed a home base. In 1884 they were living in a tent on their new land. They built a small Victorian cottage to occupy temporarily, then commissioned Solomon Haas – an architect perhaps best known for the former Los Angeles City Hall that stood on Broadway from 1889 to 1928 – to design them a two-story mansion just down the street. After Monroe and his family moved into The Oaks, his brother Campbell Monroe took over the temporary cottage with his family, and added a second story. You can still visit that older Victorian, regarded as Monrovia’s first house, at 225 Monroe Place just around the corner. 

The Oaks is a quintessential Queen Anne Victorian, with its asymmetrical shape and elaborate roofline punctuated by porches, dormers, a chimney and a tall, rectangular corner turret. There’s also a whole ‘nother layer of fancypants on this one: roof brackets, fishscale shingles, decorative gables and carved wood panels beneath the roofline, all typical of the ornate Eastlake sub-style that was all the rage for the well-to-do at the time. Depending on the source, the house has anywhere from 13-16 rooms on the inside (the exact quantity changed over time), many with 12-foot ceilings; five bedrooms, multiple parlours, three bathrooms, a formal dining room, a butler’s pantry…and the interiors retain the original old-growth redwood. As late as the 2000s, there was even a Ben Franklin Stove wood-burning stove in the kitchen – might still be there!

A short four years after moving in, Monroe got a commission to build a railroad for the Chilean government, and the entire family uprooted and moved overseas (bad timing, there was a political revolution underway at the time and the railroad ended up confiscated by the new government). The Oaks was sold to Monroe’s fellow Monrovia co-founders E.F. Spence and J.D. Bicknell, who partnered with USC to open a Young Ladies College at their old pal’s former home. Just 18 months after it opened, the school closed and The Oaks was on the market again. 

It spent the early decades of the 20th century as a private residence, and was divvied up and leased to boarders during WWII. George & Sheila Dragan bought the place in the 1970s, and began to restore it to its near-original condition. At the bottom of this detailed history by the Monrovia Historical Society , there’s a very pro-looking brochure prepared by the Dragans to attract film productions to their home. From reports I’ve read, subsequent owners have continued to keep it in tip-top shape. 

Sources & Recommended Reading

+ The Oaks’ NRHP nomination form

+ Baker, Steve & Sylvia Dohnal: “Detailed history and brochure on the ‘William Newton Monroe House’ or ‘The Oaks’ (Monrovia Historical Society)

+ Hathaway, Edithe Harbison: “William Newton Monroe” (Monrovia Historical Society) – PDF download

+ “Early Monrovia History” (Monrovia Historic Preservation Group)

+ “Monroe Addition to Monrovia Tract” (Early Monrovia Structures)

+ The Oaks @ LocationsHub

+ William H. Monroe House (Michael Locke, 2011)

Music omnivore, student of LA history, beer snob and amateur father. Working my way through the canon.

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• #192: Doctors House (Glendale) March 9, 2024
• #191: Gartz Court (Pasadena) March 1, 2024
• #190: Warner Grand Theatre (San Pedro) February 17, 2024

About Your Host

Donna baker.

I was raised in the San Gabriel Valley and made Monrovia my home in 1987. My husband, David, and I have been married for 36 years and we share our home with our orange polydactyl cat, Catcher. Since moving to Monrovia, my volunteer spirit focused on giving to the community, even before I became a Realtor. After buying our 1910 Craftsman, my main focus was getting involved with the Monrovia Old House Preservation Group and becoming part of the preservation community in my new home town. I served as a docent, photographer, name badge designer, and more, then later was able to sponsor and support the group’s annual home tour. In 1995, I was appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission, and I served in that capacity for twenty years.

In 2001, after 30 years as an administrative professional, I was laid off from a high-tech job and a friend suggested I give real estate a try. The rest is history, so they say! My involvement with preservation of historic properties allowed me to segue into a niche of old homes, and I was able to establish myself as the local vintage homes specialist. While I sell everything from condos to castles, my true passion is older homes. They embody character and craftsmanship that isn’t found in the newer construction homes today. I’m a graduate of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Historic Real Estate program, and a past member of the California Preservation Foundation. I’ve had the privilege of selling two homes in Monrovia that appear on the National Register of Historic Places – The Upton Sinclair House and The Oaks.

I love helping people find or sell homes. Being involved in such a huge life journey gives me the opportunity to be a part of their family. I nurture my relationships with my clients and those who refer people to me by hosting an annual Client Appreciation event. I love being able to make a difference in the lives of people in such a huge way!

My other passion is volunteerism and supporting charitable organizations, with a focus on youth, helping those less fortunate, and animal rescue. I was named Citizen of the Year by the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce in 2008. I was also honored with the Boys & Girls Club Mary Wilcox Youth Advocacy and Community Leadership Award in 2009. Judy Chu presented me with the Women of Distinction award in 2013, and I was recognized by the Arcadia Association of Realtors as Volunteer of the Year in 2014.

I am a proud supporter of Habitat for Humanity, Foothill Unity Center, the Immigration Resource Center, The Carter Center, Greenpeace, Animal Welfare Institute, Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills, and other charitable organizations. In the past, I have served as President of the Santa Anita Family YMCA, Board Member of the Boys & Girls Club, President of the local Quota Club, and President of the Monrovia Day Assocation.

I’m a true believer that by getting involved and supporting my community brings rewards back to me tenfold. I don’t waste my hard earned commissions on paying for leads from websites. I put my money into my community! That’s where it belongs and that is why it’s important to me to feature local people in our town who feel the same.

Business: (626) 408-7766 Mobile: (626) 487-0820 Email: [email protected] Website: https://donnabaker.elliman.com/

Image / F.W. Burr House 150 N. Myrtle Ave

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California Events

California home & garden shows.

Californians own some of the priciest homes in the nation, but there is also charm in small, unique properties such as Sausalito Floating Homes, on view once a year in a home tour. With more than 100 home tours offered as special events, there's no shortage of opportunities to step inside and see what makes a house a home. Many of the home tours features gardens worth seeing as integral elements of the experience, but there are also many  tours where you stay outdoors viewing the property grounds at California Garden Tours.

JACKSON : Historic Homes Tour  April 5 Historic Sites - 5 Beautiful Homes $25-up, amador-ca.aauw.net

UPLAND : Upland Heritage Vintage Home Tour   10 a.m.-5 p.m. $, uplandheritage.org City of Upland Vintage Home Tour is self-guided and guests will drive to each home using provided maps and addresses.

PIEDMONT : Heart of the Home Tour Info may change:  10 a.m. - 4 p.m. $45-62, wehelpkids.org Receive a Tour Book for self-guided Tour of beautiful homes in Piedmont and Oakland Hills where you may view many of the rooms as well as the gardens. Event benefits at-risk children.

SANTA ANA : Floral Park Home & Garden Tour April 28-29, 2018, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Main entrance at the corner of Victoria Dr. and Santa Clara Santa Ana, CA $30-35, floralpark.com | floralparkhometour.com The neighborhoods of West Floral Park and Jack Fisher Park in north Santa Ana feature gardens to tour, a water-wise sidewalk tour, garden expert talks and demonstrations, vintage cars, vendors and food trucks. Over 200 neighborhood homes are listed on the Santa Ana Register of Historic Properties. Since the first Home & Garden Tour in 1993, more than 200 homes and gardens in Floral Park have been open to visitors.

HEALDSBURG : Sonoma County Living Day Tour 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Day Tours:  2018  February 16 | March 9 | April 20 | May 25 | June 28 sonomalivingtour.com, $

NAPA : Kitchens in the Vineyards April 27-28, 2018. $70 kitchens home tour Apr.28, 2018 | $275 preview party Apr.27, 2018, musicinthevineyards.org Held in the heart of Napa Valley's wine country kitchens open their doors for the annual Kitchens in the Vineyards Home & Garden Tour, a self-guided home tour benefiting Music in the Vineyards. The one-of-a-kind tour features kitchens, dining rooms, entertainment areas and gardens, all enhanced by professional, springtime floral designs and table settings. Visitors enjoy scrumptious tastings offered by local, notable chefs and meet cookbook authors available to autograph books

SAN FRANCISCO : San Francisco Decorator Showcase April 28 - May 28, 2018 465 Marina Boulevard San Francisco, CA Cost: $40, $35 senior decoratorshowcase.org Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday and Memorial Day 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sophisticated three-level home built in 1930, transformed by top interior and landscape designers into the premier West Coast showcase event.

MONROVIA : Historic Home Tours May 5, 2019, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 37th Historic Homes Tour presented by The Monrovia Historic Preservation Group features six of the city's First Houses built before the end of 1887. Also open for viewing will be the Monrovia Historical Museum and the Anderson House Museum.  Ticket sold  at Monrovia Chamber of Commerce (620 S. Myrtle Ave), Dollmakers' Kattywompus (412 S. Myrtle Ave) or Foothill Gym (202 S. Myrtle Ave). Vintage "horseless carriages" will roam the streets of Monrovia, ushering in memories of time long past but alive for this special day. Docents will be stationed within each home to share stories, anecdotes, and architectural details of these "Gems of Monrovia." Popcorn will be provided by Podley Properties and cookies by the Rivanis Baking Company, gratis of course. In 2017 the Monrovia Legacy Project identified 67 homes still standing that were built before the end of 1887. MOHPG decided to recognize these homes with a special plaque. Consent was obtained from 44 of the homeowners, and the plaques are up! Most have the year 1887 but there is one 1884, one 1885, and two 1886 plaques. So as you take your daily stroll up and down the streets of Monrovia, keep an eye out for one of these plaques on our oldest houses. The plaques measure 8" x 6" and are easy to spot from the sidewalk.  mohpg.org

TUSTIN : Old Town Tustin Promenade Home & Garden Tour May 5, 2018, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. tustinhistory.com Enjoy a stroll through old Tustin viewing how select owners have turned vintage homes and gardens into modern day living spaces while maintaining the charm of yesteryear. Each home has a unique story, interesting decor and artifacts collected by the owners. Several gardens are also included, with refreshments provided while tour guests enjoy the unique landscapes each garden provides. Also on display in several areas around Old Town will be vintage and antique cars, quilts and crafts available for purchase. Info may change: Cost: $20-30

SANTA CLARA - SILICON VALLEY : Silicon Valley Home Tour   May 5, 2018, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. AIA Santa Clara Valley Home Tour by architects. aiascv.org

WILLOW GLEN : Willow Glen Home Tour May 5-6, 2018 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. $40, willowglenhometour.com A 35+ year San Jose tradition, the self-guided Willow Glen Lifestyles Home Tour showcases five beautiful homes with exceptional architecture and design. At one designated garden home you will be able to: enjoy beverages and refreshments in a garden setting, mingle over wine tasting and purchase gifts from local vendors at a boutique.

BERKELEY : Berkeley Architectural Heritage Spring House Tour May 6, 2018 berkeleyheritage.com Info may change: 1-5 p.m. $45 Tour map, illustrated guidebook & refreshments provided  Featuring open houses designed by renowned architects

HEALDSBURG : AAUW Healdsburg Homes Tour May 6, 2018, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  healdsburg-ca.aauw.net Classic Healdsburg homes as well as contemporary designer homes. Info may change: $35 - $40

GILROY : Impressions Home and Garden Tour and Boutique May 11-12, 2018 Info may change: $30, gilroyassistanceleague.org Strolling Tour through the heart of Gilroy featuring five distinctive homes in the 13th annual tour.

GUALALA : Soroptimists International of Mendocino-Sonoma Coast Architectural Tour May 12, 2018, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Take a self-guided tour of several of the Mendonoma Coast architecturally-unique homes. Docents and the architect, designer, and/or builder on location at each home. Gualala Arts Center hosts wine tasting and a silent auction 3-5:30 p.m. $60-65, si-msc.org

ESCONDIDO : Mothers Day Home Tour May 13, 2018 This info may change: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. $25-30, oldescondido.org Multiple homes open to the public and refreshments served in a  garden setting. Presented by Old Escondido Historic District.

NEWPORT BEACH : Newport Harbor Home and Garden Tour May 16, 2019, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Tickets: $85-up, newportharborhometour.com Tour six beautiful homes in the Newport Harbor area, ticket includes morning reception and yacht tour, luncheon, afternoon reception and a boutique with over 20 vendors overlooking the Newport Harbor. Tickets go on sale in March, this is a sell out event.

LAFAYETTE : Kitchen Tour is on May 19, 2018 Info may change: 10 a.m. $40-55, lafayettejuniors.org 18th Annual Kitchen Tour features six beautiful and distinctive kitchens in Lafayette. Lunch may be purchased with your ticket.

BEVERLY HILLS : Friends of Robinson Gardens May 19, 2018, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 1008 Elden Way Beverly Hills, CA (310) 550-2068 $250-500, robinsongardens.org Annual Into the Garden benefit includes tours of Virginia Robinson estate in Beverly Hills, lunch and a fashion show.

CARMEL : The Robinson Jeffers Tor House Tours Fridays & Saturdays torhouse.org

LAKE ARROWHEAD : Annual Lake Arrowhead Home Tour September 18, 2021, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. View beautiful homes in Lake Arrowhead. $75, lakearrowheadchamber.com Tour 5 Homes 9am to 4pm; Wine & Cheese Reception 12pm to 5pm; Boat Shuttles: Morning 9am to 1pm; and Afternoon 1pm to 4pm Boat Shuttles on private Lake Arrowhead whisk to the fabulous Lakefront Estate. Wine & Cheese Reception at The Tudor House where you'll be transported to the Roaring '20's when Bugsy Siegel is rumored to have owned the club. Tickets on sale now at LakeArrowheadHomeTour.com

HEALDSBURG : Sonoma County Living - the Best of Healdsburg Tour September 13, 2017 sonomalivingtour.com, $250-up

SAUSALITO : Floating Homes Tour   usually in September 14, 2019, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $50-55, floatinghomes.org/tour/tour-info/  Self-guided tour of the amazing, often historic, floating homes of the bay. Buy tickets as soon as you can!

CLAREMONT : Claremont Home Tour and Fall Festival October 13, 2019, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $35-40 approx., claremontheritage.org

EUREKA : Eureka Heritage Society Home Tour  eurekaheritage.org

LONG BEACH - Cal Heights Home & Garden Tour October 6, 2019 $, calheights.org Cal Heights Neighborhood Association.

AVALON : Avalon Home Tour October 20, 2018, 1-5 p.m. $60, cimcfoundation.org 5 of the most unique homes on our distinctive and colorful island. In addition to touring five homes, you will also enjoy a welcome reception with light refreshments. This year's tour features one of the oldest structures on the island, a boat that was converted into a home in the 1920's. Also featured is a hidden wine cellar which was painstakingly dug into the mountainside by the owners over the course of several years.

ORANGE : Sip, Sample Savor October 21, 2017, 3-6 p.m.  Old Towne Preservation Association $75, otpa.org

CORONA DEL MAR : Home Tour October 22, 2019, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. $, cdmhometour.com Often includes a light breakfast, lunch, afternoon reception, and several beautiful homes to tour.

PASADENA : Craftsman Weekend November 1-3, 2019 $20-up approx., pasadenaheritage.org/craftsmanweekend Pasadena Heritage Annual Craftsman Weekend is the largest and most comprehensive salute to the Arts & Crafts Movement in the Western United States. Tour significant Craftsman-era houses, sign up for bus and walking tours,  exhibitors featuring antique and contemporary furniture and decorative arts,  receptions at historic sites. Prices vary.

  REDDING : Home Tour & Art Show November 2, 2019, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tickets $20 approx., aauwredding.org Annual Home Tour & Art Show held the first Saturday in November features unusual, unique, Redding area homes as well as enjoy an art show featuring the work of local artists.

TEMECULA : Annual Temecula Valley Woman's Club Holiday Home Tour November 11-12, 2017 Tickets: tvwc.com

December TBA

FRESNO: The Annual Fresno High Neighborhood Holiday Home Tour  December  6-9 p.m. fresnohighhometour.com

OCEANSIDE - Holiday Home Tour and Gift Boutique December 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. $20, gift boutique admission is free. meet your Oceanside neighbors, Tour premier homes decked out for the holidays, engage with community leaders, and enjoy some holiday shopping and entertainment! ci.oceanside.ca.us

OXNARD : Historic Home Tour Christmas Lights 24th Annual Christmas Tree Lane Nightly displays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., F & G Streets between 5th & Palm. Stroll or drive through one of Ventura County's largest holiday light displays in the Henry T. Oxnard National Historic District. Residents provide all holiday decorations and lighting. Visit oxnarddowntowners.org for Holly Trolley Tour information. Free annual outdoor stroll and drive event to see holiday lights throughout the Henry T. Oxnard National Historic District. OxnardHistoricDistrict.com

PETALUMA Heritage Homes Holiday Parlors Tour December heritagepetaluma.org

SACRAMENTO Holiday Home Tour Early December sacredhearthometour.com

SANTA CLARA - Historic Home Tour December , Time: 6-10 p.m. Friday | 12 Noon - 5 p. m. Saturday. $20-35. sc-hometour.com

February - March 

PALM SPRINGS : Modernism Week  February 13-23, 2020 modernismweek.com

PASADENA : Pasadena Heritage Spring Home Tour March 29, 2020, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $45-$60, pasadenaheritage.org Drive-yourself tour featuring hyper-contemporary and experimental home designs, many of which overlook the Arroyo. From Mid-Century post-and-beam to late modern glass-and-steel wonders, this year's home tour features "Wallace Neff, Master Architect." Neff was a much sought-after designer for the elite of Hollywood with a stellar array of commissions from legendary classic actors. 

SAN DIEGO : San Diego North County Adobe Home Tour $25-30, adobehometour.com The Adobe Home Tour benefits the Escondido History Center.

LOS ANGELES : Tours vary throughout the year   aialosangeles.org

RIVERSIDE: Vintage Home Tour and Restoration Faire May 20, 2017, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 2018 TBA Tickets: oldriverside.org The annual event is held in May on the Saturday following Mother's Day. In addition to the opportunity to tour some of Riverside's beautiful vintage homes, the Restoration Faire features a tour of the Old Riverside Foundation's restored headquarters -- the Peter J. Weber House -- and a host of booths featuring antiques, crafts, restoration services, and salvage items for your home and garden.

LAGUNA BEACH: The Village Laguna Charm House Tour May 21, 2017, 12 Noon-5 p.m. 2018 TBA $50-60 approx., villagelaguna.org/charm-house-tour/ Annual celebration of Laguna Beach, presenting 5-6 homes of beauty and originality. 45th Annual Charm House Tour supports protecting the village atmosphere of Laguna Beach.  Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA

LONG BEACH: Great Homes of Long Beach Tour June 3, 2018 Historical Architecture lbheritage.org SAN DIEGO: Old House Fair. The Old House Fair June Free day-long festival. Bring friends and family to enjoy festivities galore. Cost: Tours include free walking tours, a 1-hour Trolley Tour, and the popular Historic Home Tour $25. Tickets for the Trolley Tour $5 available day of the event.   theoldhousefairsd.com

SANTA BARBARA - Pearl Chase Society Tour   pearlchasesociety.org

LONG BEACH: Long Beach Home Tour  thesteelmagnolias.org

LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Garden Tour and Party  windsorsquarehancockpark.com includes stops in Brookside, Hancock Park and Windsor Square.

CORONA -Vintage Home Tour. Offered by Corona Historic Preservation Society, corona-history.org

HEALDSBURG: Sonoma County Living - the Best of Healdsburg Tour August 9, 2017 sonomalivingtour.com, $250-up

SAN FRANCISCO: AIA San Francisco San Francisco Living: Home Tours program Taking place during the Architecture and the City festival, San Francisco Living will feature 10 unique urban residences that showcase a variety of architectural styles. aiasf.org/programs/home-tours/

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• Holiday Home Tours

An 1,800-year-old Roman statue was found in a UK parking lot. How it got there is a mystery.

• Construction on the parking lot of an English estate unearthed a Roman statue.
• Experts believe the statue dates back to the first or second century.
• It's unknown how the statue ended up in the parking lot, but theories include a burglary gone awry.

A Roman statue was unearthed during construction on a British parking lot at one of the most expansive and impressive houses of the 16th century.

Digger driver Greg Crawley made the discovery in April 2023 while working in an overflow parking area at Burghley House in Peterborough, England, and now the restored sculpture can be viewed by the public.

The Roman statue was found during construction on a parking lot at Burghley House, a 16th-century English estate

Crawley said he discovered the marble head of a Roman lady in the spring of 2023.

"I had a real shock as the digger bucket rolled over what I thought was a big stone to reveal a face. When I picked it up, I realized it was a head of a statue," Crawley said in a press release by Burghley House. "I couldn't believe it when they told me it was a Roman marble statue."

The rest of the statue was found two weeks later, a short distance from where the head was unearthed .

Crawley said it was "an amazing feeling" to have discovered the statue, calling it his "best-ever discovery."

Experts believe an English aristocrat bought the sculpture during a tour of Italy in the 1700s

After the statue was cleaned of debris, experts were able to date the sculpture back to the first or second century.

Experts noted an iron dowel had been added later on so the statue could be attached to a bust or pedestal. Burghley House said this was a common practice in the 18th century to make artifacts more attractive to aristocrats buying wares abroad.

Burghley House believes the sculpture was brought back to England by Brownlow Cecil, the ninth Earl of Exeter and one of the house's two main curators who inherited the estate in 1754.

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"It is believed that it was during one of the ninth Earl's two tours to Italy in the 1760s, when he purchased many antiquities, that he brought the sculpture back to Burghley," the house said in a statement.

However, Burghley House said it was 'a complete mystery' how the bust and head ended up buried on the grounds

The house said in a press release that experts theorized it could be the result of a burglary gone awry or simply the removal of the statue at some point in history.

It's also unclear exactly how long the statue remained underground before its discovery in 2023.

After their discovery, the head and bust were brought to Burghley House's curator, who then forwarded them on to a skilled conservator.

A professional conservator cleaned and reassembled the sculpture to its original form, unveiling the striking features of a Roman woman.

Burghley House is open to the public seasonally beginning March 16, and the sculpture can now be viewed in the Hell Hall of Burghley House, along with other artifacts purchased by the ninth Earl of Exeter.

The discovery of ancient artifacts can be life-changing for their finders, depending on the age and origin of the treasure

In 2018, a woman in Texas purchased a 52-pound marble sculpture for $35 that turned out to be a 2,000-year-old Roman bust .

According to Amineddoleh & Associates , the art law firm that advised the woman on the bust, the sculpture was most likely stolen from a courtyard in Pompejanum, Germany, after the Allied forces shelled the area in 1944 and 1945.

The firm said the bust could have fetched "hundreds of thousands of dollars" on the open market had it not been stolen property of the Bavarian State. Instead, in exchange for returning the bust to its rightful home in Germany, the woman received a confidential, small finders' fee.

However, other discoveries can have serious payoffs.

In 2022, a British couple renovating their kitchen found a collection of 17th and 18th-century gold coins underneath their existing kitchen floor. The collection later sold for £754,000, or $842,330, including fees, at auction.

The coins were hidden in a pot the same size as a soda can, the BBC reported.

Watch: Restoring chipped snow white lawn statues

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