Pardee Home

The Pardee Home is a three-story Victorian mansion preserved as a museum in downtown Oakland, with rooms arranged as they were during family occupation. Original furniture and personal possessions throughout the house document how residents lived and the interests they pursued.

The residence dates to the 19th century and served as home to the Pardee family, with George Pardee among the prominent members who held political office. The building survived the 1906 earthquake that devastated Oakland and was eventually opened as a museum to document the region's past.

The home displays objects collected during travels across the globe, showing how the family connected with distant cultures through their acquisitions. Visitors encounter personal items like decorative pipes and religious artworks that reveal how this household engaged with the wider world.

Visits require advance booking and guided tours last about an hour to an hour and a half, providing a thorough walkthrough of the interior. The grounds are accessible to explore at a comfortable pace, and weather can affect both indoor comfort and outdoor enjoyment.

The grounds host outdoor tea gatherings during warmer months, a singular offering that connects visitors to the household's social traditions of that era. These events allow guests to experience the setting much as members of the family once did.