Bernardo Fernandez House, Second Empire French mansion in Pinole, California.
The Bernardo Fernandez House is a 22-room mansion displaying French Second Empire features with tall bay windows, a central pavilion, and arched dormer windows. The structure also incorporates Queen Anne and Northern Italian architectural elements, with a distinctive mansard roof and carved wooden trim panels throughout.
A Portuguese immigrant named Bernardo Fernandez built this residence in 1894 after establishing himself as a successful merchant in the region. The construction took place during a period of economic growth and development in this part of California.
The blend of different architectural styles reflects how wealthy settlers from various backgrounds came together to build their lives in this region of California during the growth years of the area.
The house is located in Pinole on Tenant Avenue and is registered as a historic building. Visitors should note that this is a private residence and viewing is from the exterior only.
The Mariotti family purchased the property in 1969 and preserved a collection of vintage vehicles along with remains of an early schooner called Carlotta that sank in the early 1900s. This unusual combination of automobiles and shipwreck artifacts makes the site particularly worth noting for history enthusiasts.
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