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389:, on the San Francisco Peninsula. The mansion has been built around the villa of Count Leonetto Cipriani, the former owner of the estate. Taking three years to build, it was completed in 1867, when San Francisco's leaders and first citizens had large summer homes on the Peninsula, an integral part of San Francisco
428:, and incorporated several of the palace's elements in his design of the mansion. The mansion has a number of elegant sitting rooms and parlours. The Oriental Music Room has a set of Chinese high-tea chairs and buffets. Ralston Hall houses a collection of antiques accumulated by Ralston, including some valuable
404:
A history of San
Francisco speaks of the palatial grandeur of Ralston Hall: "In a domed wing was the oval ballroom. Its walls were mirrored, and from the frescoed ceiling hung a great crystal chandelier whose reflected lights and sparkle filled the room. I have never seen a more effective setting for
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Ralston called the estate âBelmontâ, and this eventually became the name for the town surrounding the estate. Outside of the mansion, the estate had a â stone carriage house, barns, a bowling alley, greenhouses, servantsâ quarters, and a gymnasium with
Turkish bathsâ. The estate was built to be self
559:
Sharon inherited the mansion in 1875. He did not live in the mansion, but maintained it and used it for entertaining. Ulysses S. Grant visited during this time in 1879, two years after his presidency. In 1885, Sharon died. His family kept the mansion until 1895. After the Sharon family, the mansion
518:
Originally, the mansion was built for Count
Leonetto Cipriani in 1853. The original house was a âtwo-story Italian Villa-style house, featuring asymmetrical massing, Italianate cave brackets, lacy bargeboards, and a towerâ. Some of the original house remains in the east wing. In 1864, Cipriani sold
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Among the required work - which indeed is substantial - is âreplacement or retrofit, as necessary, of the entire masonry foundationâ, and the "re-roofing, removal and replacement of existing siding and localized replacement of the flooringâ of the upper floors. The repairs are estimated to cost at
527:
In 1864, William
Chapman Ralston bought the villa. Ralston was a San Francisco businessman and entrepreneur who created the Bank of California. For the next few years, Ralston added to the building and grounds, and created one of the âfirst palatial home on the Peninsulaâ. He hosted many guests at
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After
Ralston finished expanding the mansion, it âresembled a hotel with extensive High Victorian architectural interiors; grand entertainment spaces on the main floor; European Renaissance designed pilasters, moldings, columns, interior arches, staircases, and furnishings; a remodeled ballroom,
613:
As of
February 2019, NDNU has decided to place the Ralston Hall renovation project âon holdâ to focus on fundraising for the school. The project has been âplaced on an âindefiniteâ holdâ, although it is possible that retrofitting will resume sometime. The structure will be preserved until
605:
In 2012 an engineering firm advised Notre Dame de Namur
University (NDNU) that in spite of the home's relatively good condition âit could not guarantee the safety of the buildingâs occupants in the event of an earthquake on the San Andreas Faultâ. As of April 2012, the building has been closed,
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Since 1922, Ralston Hall has been on the campus Notre Dame de Namur
University, formerly the College of Notre Dame. Prior to its closure in 2012, the mansion contained some of the university's administrative and faculty offices, such as the admissions office. It was also used for some of the
625:
Among his findings were that the mansion âretains its historic integrity, location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and associationâ (with
William Chapman Ralston from 1864 to 1875). One of the first palatial homes on the peninsula, it is also noted for its architecture.
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university's events, such as âdrama productions, concerts, recitals, guest lectures, student, faculty and staff meetings and forumsâ. The mansion was also used for weddings, galas, and other various events. In addition, it was open for public tours.
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bought the mansion as a location for their college. The mansion is still owned by the Notre Dame de Namur
University today. In 1966, Ralston Hall was designate a National Historic Landmark and in 1972, it became a California registered Historic Landmark.
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was one of the last elaborate social events of the time, taking place in the mansion's ballroom. After Senator Sharon's death in 1885, the mansion became Radcliffe Hall, a girls' finishing school. From 1900 to 1922, it was the Gardner Sanitarium.
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In order to help assure its preservation, the City of Belmont commissioned an architectural historian in 2016 to conduct an assessment of the Ralston Hall's historical significance.
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In 1875 when Ralston himself died, and the Ralston era of the estate ended. Before his death, Ralston gave the estate to Senator William Sharon, his business partner.
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reception hall, and dining room; state-of-the-art ventilation system; imported embossed glass in skylights, doors, and windows; and decoratively painted roomsâ.
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907:"Ralston's Belmont Palace Will Become A Madhouse, Dr. Gardner to Resign His Position at the Napa Asylum and Open a Sanitarium"
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sufficient, with innovative gas and water systems. A reservoir was constructed on the property in 1870.
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California Digital Newspaper Collection (CDNC), Center for Biographical Studies and Research,
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A few of the notable persons who have been entertained at Ralston Hall include:
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was used as a girls finishing school from 1895 to 1898, called Radcliffe Hall.
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954:"National Register #66000234: William Ralston Home in Belmont, California"
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After Ralston's death, the estate passed to his former business partner,
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Senator William Sharon period, and Radcliffe Hall (1875â1895; 1895â1898)
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393:. Architect John Painter Gaynor, who later worked with Ralston on the
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National Register of Historic Places in San Mateo County, California
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National Register of Historic Places â Nomination and Inventory
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Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in California
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The grounds of the mansion contain numerous gardens, a stoney
999:"Update on the Current Status of Ralston Hall | Media Center"
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The Hall is a four-floor, 55,000-square-foot (5,100 m)
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The sanitarium closed after World War I. Then, in1922, the
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National Historic Landmarks in the San Francisco Bay Area
882:"Historic asylums and sanitariums of Northern California"
676:. Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks
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Sir Thomas George Fermor-Hesketh, 7th Baronet, of Rufford
412:, with a stately dining room, a mirrored ballroom in the
856:"About Ralston Hall | The Campaign to Save Ralston Hall"
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founded and operated by Dr. A. M. Gardner formally of
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History of the National Register of Historic Places
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793:"Background | The Campaign to Save Ralston Hall"
588:Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (1922âto present)
835:"Historic Resource Evaluation for Ralston Hall"
528:the mansion, including Admiral David Farragut,
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8:
916:. San Francisco Call, Volume 87, Number 85.
416:tradition, an opera box modelled after the
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523:William Chapman Ralston period (1864â1875)
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519:the building to William Chapman Ralston.
40:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
716:McKithan, Cecil N. (September 8, 1977).
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1505:History of San Mateo County, California
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1510:Houses in San Mateo County, California
647:"National Register Information System"
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568:From 1900 to 1918, it was then a
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1530:Italianate architecture in California
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16:Historic house in Belmont, California
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1535:Victorian architecture in California
1068:National Register of Historic Places
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979:"The Campaign to Save Ralston Hall"
913:University of California, Riverside
927:Bragman, Bob (September 7, 2016).
112:Show map of San Francisco Bay Area
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1550:1867 establishments in California
532:, Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins,
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49:U.S. National Historic Landmark
1525:Notre Dame de Namur University
1032:Notre Dame de Namur University
594:Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
564:Gardner Sanitarium (1900â1922)
530:Vice President Schuyler Colfax
387:Notre Dame de Namur University
375:Notre Dame de Namur University
367:California Historical Landmark
342:businessman, a founder of the
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880:Dowd, Katie (June 16, 2016).
172:Show map of the United States
21:United States historic place
1545:Villas in the United States
1441:National Historic Landmarks
514:Cipriani period (1853â1864)
357:, modified with touches of
334:, was the country house of
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371:National Historic Landmark
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269:NRHP reference
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1520:Houses completed in 1867
255:Architectural style
32:William C. Ralston House
618:Historical significance
336:William Chapman Ralston
1459:Keeper of the Register
750:"William Ralston Home"
718:"William Ralston Home"
614:renovation can begin.
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213:37.51750°N 122.28611°W
142:Show map of California
1479:Contributing property
761:National Park Service
729:National Park Service
705:on November 14, 2007.
657:National Park Service
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453:United States Senator
314:Designated CHISL
232:4 acres (1.6 ha)
610:least $ 12 million.
606:pending renovation.
426:Palace of Versailles
373:. It is now part of
369:and is designated a
324:Ralston Hall Mansion
218:37.51750; -122.28611
1555:Gilded Age mansions
860:www.ralstonhall.com
797:www.ralstonhall.com
574:Napa State Hospital
536:, James Flood, and
447:Uses of the mansion
350:. It is an opulent
306:Designated NHL
209: /
186:Belmont, California
80:The mansion in 2005
1178:Los Angeles County
601:Pending renovation
578:Gardner Sanitarium
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344:Bank of California
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1474:Historic district
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365:details. It is a
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309:November 13, 1966
301:November 15, 1966
293:Significant dates
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1118:Contra Costa
1027:Ralston Hall
1006:. Retrieved
1003:www.ndnu.edu
1002:
973:
963:December 19,
961:. Retrieved
957:
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938:December 19,
936:. Retrieved
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891:December 19,
889:. Retrieved
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496:Mark Hopkins
473:
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407:
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395:Palace Hotel
391:high society
384:
323:
322:
166:Ralston Hall
136:Ralston Hall
106:Ralston Hall
18:
1424:Other lists
1405:Los Angeles
1298:Santa Clara
1278:San Joaquin
958:noehill.com
757:Photographs
680:October 14,
582:World War I
432:paintings.
430:Thomas Hill
381:The mansion
326:located in
282:CHISL
216: /
204:122°17â˛10âłW
192:Coordinates
1494:Categories
1333:Stanislaus
1303:Santa Cruz
1258:San Benito
1253:Sacramento
1072:California
630:References
570:sanitarium
538:Mark Twain
478:President
414:Versailles
352:Italianate
332:California
1288:San Mateo
1268:San Diego
1248:Riverside
1198:Mendocino
1128:El Dorado
1123:Del Norte
1108:Calaveras
1081:by county
584:in 1922.
405:a ball."
363:Victorian
259:Victorian
245:Architect
201:37°31â˛3âłN
64: 856
1410:Pasadena
1358:Tuolumne
1318:Siskiyou
1218:Monterey
1193:Mariposa
1148:Imperial
1143:Humboldt
484:Admiral
276:66000234
182:Location
1431:Bridges
1363:Ventura
1348:Trinity
1088:Alameda
1008:May 12,
865:May 13,
802:May 12,
766:May 25,
734:May 25,
509:History
443:trees.
410:mansion
328:Belmont
1353:Tulare
1343:Tehama
1338:Sutter
1328:Sonoma
1323:Solano
1313:Sierra
1308:Shasta
1243:Plumas
1238:Placer
1233:Orange
1228:Nevada
1203:Merced
1183:Madera
1173:Lassen
1133:Fresno
1113:Colusa
1098:Amador
1093:Alpine
933:SFGATE
886:SFGATE
457:Nevada
441:bamboo
437:grotto
60:
1208:Modoc
1188:Marin
1163:Kings
1138:Glenn
1103:Butte
1079:Lists
982:(PDF)
753:(pdf)
721:(pdf)
455:from
422:Paris
355:Villa
237:Built
1373:Yuba
1368:Yolo
1223:Napa
1213:Mono
1168:Lake
1158:Kern
1153:Inyo
1010:2021
965:2021
940:2021
893:2021
867:2021
804:2021
768:2012
736:2012
682:2012
361:and
338:, a
317:1972
240:1864
229:Area
1070:in
420:in
397:in
288:856
284:No.
271:No.
62:No.
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