Hinds House

The Hinds House is a residence built in the Stick-Eastlake style in Santa Cruz, notable for its wooden structural elements and linear decorative details. The building preserves original fixtures from the Victorian era and showcases typical craftsmanship techniques characteristic of this architectural approach.

The house was built between 1888 and 1889 by architect John H. Williams for Alfred J. Hinds, an English immigrant who became a successful businessman in Santa Cruz. Its construction coincided with a period of growth and architectural innovation in the California coastal city.

The house shows the architectural taste that wealthy Santa Cruz residents favored during the late Victorian period. It reflects how successful local merchants displayed their prosperity through elaborate wooden facades and detailed ornamental work.

The house stands on Chestnut Street and functions today as a guest house with multiple rooms and common areas. Visitors should plan ahead since the building has limited capacity and reservations should be made in advance.

The building was among the first in Santa Cruz to receive electric lighting in the 1890s, underlining its status as the home of a prosperous and forward-thinking family. This early adoption of electricity made it a harbinger of modern home technology in the region.