Designed by architect Peter R. Schmidt for William and Bertha Haas, and constructed in 1886, the 11,500 square foot Haas-Lilienthal House embodies both the ambitious spirit of San Francisco’s pioneers and its grand Victorian-period architecture.  

 

Surviving the 1906 earthquake and fire, it remained in the family until 1973 when it was entrusted to The Foundation for San Francisco's Architectural Heritage (now SF Heritage). The House soon became their headquarters,  as well as a house museum featuring docent-led public tours, a venue for private events and an educational space hosting a program for third graders to learn about architecture, preservation and the 19th century lifestyle.

 

Today, this exuberant Queen Anne style home survives as a site of national cultural and architectural significance. In addition to being on the National Register of Historic Places, and San Francisco Landmark (#69), the House was designated a National Treasure in 2012 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.