Carolands

Carolands, also known as "The Chateau," was constructed around 1915 and considered one of the finest examples of French Classical architecture in America. It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and is a California State Landmark.

Carolands address:  565 Remillard Drive, Hillsborough, CA 94010

Design & Construction

The home was built in Hillsborough by Harriett Pullman Carolan, the heiress to the Pullman railroad car fortune, and her husband Francis J. Carolan. French architect Ernest Sanson designed the 98-room estate on its 554-acre site. A renowned local architect Willis Polk acted as the construction supervisor. French landscape architect Achilles Duchene designed the gardens, which originally included a tea house, swimming pool, orangerie and tempietto.

Deterioration & Renovation

Over the years, the property was bought and sold numerous times, and much of the original property was subdivided. The house was allowed to deteriorate, and although it was often threatened with demolition, the historic glory of the magnificent structure remained.

Ann and Charles Johnson restored the mansion with amazing dedication and attention to authentic historic detail. They occupied the home as a family for 10 years, and in 2012 donated the Chateau to Carolands Foundation, a nonprofit organization, with the intention of preserving Carolands for charitable purposes and architectural study.

Carolands is once again a beautiful historic landmark in Hillsborough.
Visit the Carolands official website.

Carolands by David Glomb

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Photo credit: David Glomb