Belmont in San Mateo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Ralston Hall

State Historic Landmark #856 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mathew H. Kohnen, July 3, 1997

1. State Historic Landmark #856

Inscription. This redwood structure was completed in 1868 by William Chapman Ralston, San Francisco financier, incorporating Count Cipriani’s earlier villa. This enlarged mansion with its mirrored ballroom became the symbol of the extravagance of California's silver age. It anticipated features later incorporated into Ralston's Palace Hotel of San Francisco.

Erected 1972 by State Department of Parks & Recreation, California Historical Society. (Marker Number 856.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1868.

Location. 37° 30.978′ N, 122° 17.228′ W. Marker is in Belmont, California, in San Mateo County. It is on Ralston Avenue. Plaque is attached to a large boulder near the front entrance to the mansion. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1500 Ralston Ave, Belmont CA 94002, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Built in 1924 (approx. half a mile away); San Carlos Station (approx. 1.6 miles away); San Carlos Depot (approx. 1.6 miles away); City of San Carlos Veterans Memorial

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(approx. 1.6 miles away); Thaddeus Kerns (approx. 1.9 miles away); Pan American Airways "Philippine Clipper" Martin (M-130) NC-14715 (approx. 1.9 miles away); Len Turner (approx. 2 miles away); Navy R4D (C-47) Crash (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Belmont.

Also see . . . How The Mighty Fall. The Story of William C. Ralston.

"The expense of constructing the Palace Hotel, along with other disastrous financial transactions, led to the collapse of his fortune. One day after his empire disappeared, his body was found in San Francisco Bay. Circumstances surrounding his death were vague."

(Submitted on January 12, 2024, by James King of San Miguel, California.)

Ralston Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mathew H. Kohnen, circa July 3, 1997

2. Ralston Hall

Completed in 1868 by William Chapman Ralston, Ralston Hall became a symbol of the extravagance durring California's silver age. Many of its features would be incorporated into Ralston's Palace Hotel in San Francisco.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2007, by Mathew H. Kohnen of San Jose, California. This page has been viewed 2,336 times since then and 36 times this year. Last updated on September 8, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 29, 2007, by Mathew H. Kohnen of San Jose, California. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.