Ramsay-Durfee Estate

The Ramsay-Durfee Estate is a Tudor Revival mansion in West Adams with stone walls, half-timber details, and a slate roof along South Western Avenue. The three-story building contains 42 rooms and features formal gardens plus a carriage house on a roughly 2.8-acre property.

Built in 1908 by architect Frederick Roehrig for lumber businessman William E. Ramsay, the estate represents early twentieth-century prosperity architecture in Los Angeles. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

The mansion served as a favored location for motion picture productions, with its third-floor ballroom becoming central to early film industry activity. This connection to cinema history continues to shape how the neighborhood views the property.

The property is visible from the street, allowing visitors to admire the mansion's architectural details and gardens from outside. The best time to view is during daylight hours when natural light highlights the stone and timber elements.

The grand staircase features exceptional mahogany craftsmanship illuminated by art glass windows, showcasing the technical skill of early twentieth-century construction. These handcrafted details represent the quality standard expected in wealthy households of that era.

Location: California

Architects: Frederick Roehrig

Architectural style: Tudor Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 34.03333,-118.30944

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:25