Bucket List: Queen Anne Cottage

The Queen Anne style of architecture refers to a particular form that was developed during the reign of Queen Anne in the early 1700s.  Buildings in this style feature bilateral symmetry, rows of painted sash windows and a central entrance.  In the United States this design was modified to include high peaked and gabled roofs.  There are many historical and private homes in the style but the specific example this entry refers to is located on the grounds of the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia, California.

The cottage was designed by architect Albert A. Bennett for real-estate speculator Elias Baldwin and his third wife.  The elaborate Coach Barn was constructed first in 1879, followed by the house and a nearby guest house in 1885.  The interior contained features such as black walnut doors, marble fireplace mantels, and stained glass windows.  An extensive renovation between 1951 and 1953 restored these and many other elements that had been previously removed.

Both the gardens and the cottage have been used as the backdrop in numerous productions, most famously for the opening of the 1978 TV show Fantasy Island.  It's considered a California Historical Landmark and public tours are given only twice a year.

Official Arboretum web site: www.arboretum.org

History of the Cottage: Baldwin's Belvedere: The Queen Anne Cottage at the LA Arboretum