NEARBY
ATTRACTIONS
Hostelling International - Sacramento
900 H Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 PH: (916) 443-1691
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STEP BACK INTO ANOTHER CENTURY as you relax in the quiet comfortable elegance of this 1885 Victorian mansion in the heart of California's state capitol.
An easy walk from Amtrak, Greyhound, public transportation and many
attractions: Old Sacramento Historic District on the Sacramento River;
the California State Railroad Museum; Sutter's Fort and Indian Museum;
the governor's mansion; the State Capitol and Capitol Park. Take a rafting
adventure down the American River; explore the Delta; plan a day trip to
the Napa-Sonoma wine region, Gold Rush towns, or to Lake Tahoe; cycle the
oak-lined American River Bikeway.
THE MANSION IS AVAILABLE FOR DAY USE RENTAL BY ADVANCE RESERVATION
The historic and beautifully restored main floor of the mansion (two parlors, grand entry, dining rooms, kitchen) can be rented for day use between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., including set-up and clean-up. The dining room can accommodate 36-50 persons. Total attendance should not exceed 80 persons. Smoking is allowed outside only; alcohol consumption is permitted.
RATES
To reserve, a completed rental agreement and a non-refundable deposit of 50% are required. The balance of the rental fee and a refundable security deposit of $200 are due no later than fourteen days prior to your reservation date. Within 14 days of event, 100% of the rental fee is non-refundable.
For a copy of the day use rental agreement, please contact the hostel
directly. E-mail hisac@norcalhostels.org
or call (916) 443-1691.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING
F R E E and open to the public--Sacramento Storytellers Guild spins
tales at the Mansion on the second Thursday of every month, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
PUBLIC TOURS OF THE MANSION
The Mansion is open to the public for "spontaneous" tours daily during
our evening hours (5:00-10:00 p.m.). FREE SPECIAL DAYTIME GROUP TOURS
may be reserved in advance by calling the hostel at (916) 443-1691.
Donations for these special tours are WELCOMED!
THE LLEWELLYN WILLIAMS MANSION STORY
This stately mansion, described in the January 3, 1891, Sacramento Bee as "one of the most elegant and comfortable of the recently built homes of the city," was completed in 1885 at a cost of $16,000. The owner, Llewellyn Williams (a native of Maine), arrived via sailing vessel in 1850, drawn to the rich gold fields of the Mother Lode. Llewellyn was part owner of the Pioneer Milling Company situated near the Sacramento River where the present day California State Railroad Museum is located. "Lew", as his friends and business associates called him, built the grand Mansion on upscale H Street for his wife Lucy. They had one adopted daughter, also named Lucy ... a big house for just three people!
The Williams Mansion is considered one of the finest examples of nineteenth-century "Italianate-Stick Style" architecture in this area. This Victorian form is characterized by a great deal of intricate bracketing and irregularity of design. The mansion was designed by two noted architects of the day, Seth Babson and James Seadler, who also designed the Leland Stanford and Crocker Mansions.
H.G. Smith, president of the Pioneer Milling Company became its second owner in 1891 after Lew's death, purchasing the house for $30,000 in GOLD. He then sold it to the Van Voorhies Investment Company and in 1906 they moved it from its original 10th and H Street corner location to the adjoining lot which had served as the ornate garden area. (It moved to its present location in October, 1994)
The house was sold in 1907 to H. Edward Yardley, owner of the Clark and Booth funeral firm, who converted it into a funeral home, adding a stable in the rear. Like the impressive mansion in which it was located, Clark, Booth and Yardley (California's oldest operating funeral home), was closely linked with Sacramento's colorful early years.
In 1946 A.M. Holmes bought into the funeral home partnership with Charles Monro. Upon Mr. Monro's death, he became sole owner. A.M. (Mory) Holmes Jr., kept the family tradition and joined the firm in 1956, and in 1967 the family name was added to the firm as the Holmes Funeral Home.
In 1972, Mory retired and leased the mansion to the University Club, a private meets group comprised of prominent judges, attorneys, and member of the legislature. The mansion was the setting for their noon meals and served as a relaxing place for conducting informal business affairs. The University Club vacated when Mory took back the house in 1978. He and his family reopened the building as "Mory's Place-The Victorian," serving noon meals to downtown workers during the week and a very popular events venue at night and on weekends for weddings, receptions, proms, and parties of all types.
Mory sold the mansion to a consortium of developers in 1988. These developers, wishing to build a high rise office building on the corner of 10th and H. donated this 13,000 square foot four story landmark to the Golden Gate Council of American Youth Hostels, on the condition that it be moved to another site. After five arduous years of seeking a suitable location, the City of Sacramento offered land directly across H Street, in the City's motor pool parking lot. This site won approval because of its close proximity to the original location and because the massive structure would not have to be cut into sections to move. With much pomp and circumstance, the 350-ton structure moved on October 15, 1994. A real community spectacle, hundreds came to witness the miracle of the move ... seeing is believing!!
After eight months of remodeling/restoration, the stately Williams Mansion was reopened May 4, 1995 as the Sacramento International Hostel, the finest in the International Hostel network. The entire project cost $2.1 million raised from both public and private sources by AYH. This non-profit service organization has received numerous preservation awards for its adaptive reuse of historic buildings to provide budget accommodations in an educational environment for the young at heart who travel to gain a greater understanding of the world and its people.
Beds: 70
Facilities: patio, gardens, verandah, BBQ, spacious shared and
private sleeping quarters, drawing room and parlor with antique piano,
recreation room, travel library, information center, video rental, fully-equipped
kitchen, laundry room, linen rental, security lockers, bike workshop, limited
free parking, wheelchair accessible.
Private rooms: available
Groups: welcome (up to 50 people: see
group facilities)
Reservations essential: for groups
Reservations advisable: always
By phone: accepted 24 hours in advance with credit card confirmation
Credit cards: MasterCard, Visa
Managers: Rebecca Lang and Janice Eckdahl
DIRECTIONS
Airport: From Sacramento Metropolitan Airport take I-5 South,
exit at J Street, turn left at 8th Street, turn right on H Street. Shuttles
are available from airport to downtown Sacramento for about $10. Train:
The hostel is 4 blocks east of the Amtrak station at 5th and I Streets.
Bus: The hostel is 4/10 of a mile from the bus station at 8th
and L Street.
Copyright (c) 1998 Hostelling International -- Golden Gate Council
