The McHenry Mansion was designed by architect Jeremiah Robinson of Stockton, the same man who helped design the Stanislaus County Courthouse. Construction began in 1882 in the High Victorian Italianate style. This kind of architecture style commonly features belvederes, tall windows, and porches, all of which can be found in the McHenry Mansion’s design.
Robert McHenry, the mansion’s namesake, arrived in California before the Gold Rush and was involved in numerous businesses over the years. In 1878, he became a director of the Modesto Bank, and the next year, its cashier. After the mansion finished construction in 1883, he lived in it with his family for another seven years until his death.
Over the years, the home went through many owners and many roles, including stints as a sanitarium and an apartment house. In 1976, at Modesto Mayor Lee Davies’s urging, the Mansion was purchased through the Gallo Foundation and given to the city. Over the next 7 years, the mansion was remodeled to its former state. In 1983, the McHenry Mansion opened to the public.
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