Hinds House, Santa Cruz

The Hinds House in Santa Cruz is a notable historic building and a fine example of Victorian architecture. Constructed between 1888 and 1889 by Alfred J. Hinds and his wife Sarah, this residence is recognized as the largest surviving Stick-Eastlake house in Santa Cruz County. The architectural style was crafted by local architect John H. Williams, known for designing over sixty buildings in the area.

Alfred Hinds, born in 1845 in Chester, England, moved to the United States during his early childhood and eventually settled in Santa Cruz in 1852. An active community member, Hinds ventured into various businesses and civic activities, from owning a book and stationery shop to engaging in real estate development and participating in local governance and fraternal orders.

Tragedy struck the Hinds family in 1876 when a diphtheria epidemic claimed the lives of their four children. However, they later had three more children who survived into adulthood. Alfred Hinds passed away in 1921, and over the years, the ownership and purpose of the house shifted. By 1982, the Hinds House had been transformed into a bed and breakfast inn, now known as the Hinds Victorian Guest House, which provides weekly lodging and maintains much of its original Victorian charm.

Today, the Hinds House features original woodwork, a grand staircase with one of Santa Cruz's first electric lights installed in the 1890s, and well-preserved common rooms like the dining room, sitting room, and parlor. Located on Chestnut Street, near the heart of downtown and close to the University of California, Santa Cruz, it offers ten guest rooms, including in the attic, surrounded by significant greenery like Norfolk pines and a towering Coastal Redwood. This historic inn not only serves as a living museum of the Victorian era but also as a charming accommodation for those visiting or relocating to Santa Cruz.