Known as Postcard Row, these stunning houses were built between 1892 and 1896 by developer Matthew Kavanaugh, who lived in the 1892 mansion at 722 Steiner - the oldest, largest, and most detailed of the seven sisters.
The Painted Ladies symbolizes the California Gold Rush. With so much money coming into the city, San Francisco builders wanted to show off their newfound wealth with these grand homes. That's why they have so many dramatic windows, decorated rooflines, and turrets.
The name "Painted Ladies" took hold in 1978 when authors Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen published a book called "Painted Ladies: San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians" about the city's iconic Victorian houses. The name was used to refer to Victorian houses that were painted using three or more colors.
A five bedroom, Victorian-style home known as the “Pink Painted Lady,” part of the iconic “Painted Ladies” row of houses in San Francisco, was for sale for $3.55 million.
About 48,000 houses in the Victorian and Edwardian styles were built in San Francisco between 1849 and 1915. There was a change from Victorian to Edwardian occurring on the death of Queen Victoria in 1901.
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