Thorn House, place in San Andreas, California, listed on National Register of Historic Places
The Thorn House is a residential building built in 1857 in San Andreas in the Carpenter Gothic style, featuring decorative woodwork, pointed gables, and a steep roof. The structure includes nine French doors opening to a wraparound porch and upper veranda, plus a wooden spiral staircase connecting all three floors.
The house was built in 1857 for Sheriff Ben Thorn, a well-known law enforcement officer who served in various capacities for nearly 50 years in Calaveras County. Thorn became known for capturing bandits like Black Bart during the Gold Rush era.
The house was home to Sheriff Ben Thorn, a prominent figure during California's Gold Rush era, and reflects the community's pride in its past. The architecture with its decorative wooden details and steep roofline shows the craftsmanship and taste of that period.
The building sits on about two acres of land in San Andreas and is accessible from the outside to view its architectural details. The grounds include garden paths and surrounding landscape that enhance a visit.
The house was the first building in Calaveras County to feature plastered interior walls, an innovative finishing technique for its time. Additionally, the bricks were transported from Stockton, about 50 miles away, showing how materials traveled long distances then.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
