Kimberly Crest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Kimberly Crest
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Kimberly Crest house and gardens
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | Redlands, California |
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| Built | 1897 |
| Architect | Lyman Farwell Oliver Perry Dennis |
| Architectural style | Victorian, Châteauesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000328 |
| Added to NRHP | March 28, 1996 |
Kimberly Crest House and Gardens is a beautiful mansion in Redlands, California. It looks like a French castle, built in the Victorian style. This special property is recognized as a California Historical Landmark and is also on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site in both California and the United States.
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History of Kimberly Crest
The Kimberly Crest mansion was built in 1897. It was first built for Mrs. Cornelia A. Hill. She was one of the first people to settle in Redlands.
In 1905, John Alfred Kimberly bought the house. He was a co-founder of the Kimberly-Clark paper company. Mr. Kimberly bought the home to escape the cold winters in Wisconsin. This is how the property got the Kimberly family name.
The Kimberly Family and Gardens
When the Kimberly family bought the property, Mrs. Kimberly had Italian-style gardens added. The family loved to celebrate holidays at the house. They had a huge magnolia tree, about 90 feet (27 meters) tall. They decorated it with 6,000 watts of lights. The Kimberly family lived in the home for many years. Mary Kimberly Shirk, John Alfred Kimberly's daughter, lived there until she passed away in 1979.
A Gift to Redlands
Before she passed away, Mrs. Shirk made a special offer to the city of Redlands. She challenged the city to raise money to buy 39 acres (about 15.8 hectares) of land around the house. She wanted this land to become a botanical park. If the city raised the money, she promised to give the mansion and its 6.25 acres (about 2.5 hectares) of surrounding land to the city.
The city successfully raised the money. The surrounding land became known as Prospect Park. When Mrs. Shirk passed away, she left the home to "the people of Redlands." She also used money from the sale of Prospect Park to create the Kimberly-Shirk Association. This association still takes care of the home today.
Kimberly Crest in Movies
The grounds of Kimberly Crest were once used for a music video. They were the setting for Fleetwood Mac's "Big Love" video. However, shots showing the inside of the home were filmed on a special movie set.
Architecture of the Mansion
The Kimberly Crest mansion has three stories. It was designed in a style called Châteauesque. This style makes it look like a French castle. The architects who designed it were Oliver Perry Dennis and Lyman Farwell. They were partners from Los Angeles.
The building is very large, with over 7,000 square feet (about 650 square meters) of floor space. A very similar building was designed by the same architects. It is now known as The Magic Castle and was built in Hollywood in 1909.
Beautiful Gardens
The gardens around Kimberly Crest are beautiful examples of the Italian style. This style was very popular with homeowners in the early 1900s. Mr. Kimberly had the current gardens created in 1909. They include lovely statues and koi ponds. Today, the Inland Koi Society helps maintain the lily ponds.
Kimberly Crest Today
The Kimberly-Shirk Association has taken care of the property since 1981. They continue Mrs. Shirk's tradition of being involved in community events. Kimberly Crest is open to the public for tours. You can also book it for weddings and other private events. Tours are available on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. They start every half hour, with the last tour beginning at 3:30 pm.
See also
Gallery
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Châteauesque Kimberly Crest home viewed from road.
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Driveway to porte-cochere and principal entrance at the architectural rear of the house.
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View from the front porch showing the gardens and the San Bernardino Valley beyond.
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Kimberly Crest carriage house.
