The McHenry Mansion in Modesto

Your mom and I often get the bug to get out of town, but we've been watching our spending lately to save up for our wedding. So, we satisfied the urge today by taking a short trip to nearby Modesto. One of the attractions your mom had read a bit about was the McHenry Mansion, the old Victorian house in the middle of downtown where one of the wealthy families lived and grew the town.

The house once stood all alone and surrounded by fields and orchards. The McHenry family became wealthy growing "winter wheat," and eventually they  were tycoon-like and the most prominent family in the region. The house has since exchanged hands and was almost torn down after being converted into a bunch of apartments for a while. The city eventually bought it and saved it for its historical value.

Your mom always appreciates such design details, especially in architecture.  

This is the McHenry's dining room, where supposedly they frequently held parties. It's always interesting walking through a place which holds such historical energy and imagining their lives which played out right here, their conversations held in this room.

An interesting historical piece in the house is their flag, with only 38 stars! Some of the most basic facts of our world today were completely different back then, just like some of the basic facts of the world today may be completely different when you grow up.