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 | O.P. Dennis, L.P. Farwell |
| Architectural style | Victorian, Châteauesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000328 |
| Added to NRHP | March 28, 1996 |
Kimberly Crest House and Gardens is a beautiful old mansion in Redlands, California. It looks like a French castle! This amazing Victorian-style home is a special landmark in California. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site for everyone to enjoy.
Contents
History of Kimberly Crest
A Home with a Rich Past
The Kimberly Crest house was built in 1897. It was first built for Mrs. Cornelia A. Hill. She was one of the first important people in Redlands. In 1905, a man named John Alfred Kimberly bought the house. He was a co-founder of the Kimberly-Clark paper company. He bought the home to escape the cold winters in Wisconsin. This is how the house got the Kimberly family name.
When the Kimberly family moved in, Mrs. Kimberly added beautiful Italian gardens. The family loved to celebrate holidays there. They would decorate a giant magnolia tree. It was 90 feet (27 meters) tall! They used 6,000 watts of lights on it. 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 the Community
Before she passed away, Mrs. Shirk made a special offer. She challenged the city of Redlands to raise money. The goal was to buy 39 acres (15.8 hectares) of land around the house. She wanted it to become a botanical park. If the city raised the money, she promised to give the mansion to them. The mansion and its 6.25 acres (2.5 hectares) of land would be a gift.
The city successfully raised the funds. The land around the house 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 land sale to create the Kimberly-Shirk Association. This group still takes care of the home today.
Architecture of the Mansion
A French Castle in California
The Kimberly Crest mansion has three stories. It was designed in a style called Châteauesque. This style makes buildings look like French castles. The architects were Oliver Perry Dennis and Lyman Farwell. They were partners from Los Angeles. The house is very large, with over 7,000 square feet (650 square meters) of floor space.
Interestingly, the same architects designed a very similar house. It was built in Hollywood in 1909. Today, that house is known as The Magic Castle.
Kimberly Crest Gardens
Beautiful Italian-Style Gardens
The gardens at Kimberly Crest are truly amazing. They are a great example of the Italian style. This style was very popular for homeowners in the early 1900s. Mr. Kimberly had the current gardens created in 1909. They include beautiful statues and koi ponds.
Today, the gardens are cared for by the Inland Koi Society. This group helps maintain the lily ponds. They make sure the koi fish have a healthy home.
Visiting Kimberly Crest Today
A Historic Home for Everyone
The Kimberly-Shirk Association has been taking care of the property since 1981. They continue Mrs. Shirk's wish to involve the community. 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. The last tour begins at 3:30 PM. It's a great place to learn about history and enjoy beautiful gardens!
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.
