The Great Estates of the Peninsula

In the late 1800s, the Peninsula was known as one of the elite suburban areas of the United States.  The great families who ran the commerce, industry and banking of the West from offices in San Francisco, lived, or had country retreats, down the Peninsula.  California millionaires sought to impress their neighbors with their grand Peninsula homes.  

    The Great Estates of the Peninsula explores the suburban lifestyle during the late 1800s and early 1900s from European influence to relationships between the families to leisure activities.  The presentation concludes by discussing the fate of some of the Great Estates.

Carmen Blair joined the staff of the San Mateo County Historical Association in 1998 and has been the Deputy Director since 2007. Among her responsibilities, she is involved with school programs, public programs for adults and children, exhibit design and publications. She received her B.A. in History from Gustavus Adolphus College and her M.A. in Museum Studies from San Francisco State University.