The C.F. Lott Home is a Victorian revival style structure that houses a museum dedicated to the lives of the Lott family, the love story of Cornelia Lott and Jesse Sank, and the general lifestyle of well-to-do families living in the West during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
The C.F. Lott Home
In 1856, “Judge” Lott, a gold-rush pioneer who helped form California’s government and started the first Citrus Exchange in California, built the Lott home. Much of the original furnishings are on display to help tell the story of how the well-to-do lived “out west.” The collection includes antique furnishings, paintings, rugs, textiles, clothes, silver, and glassware from the period 1849 – 1910. A tour of the house reveals stories of the Lott family and their importance to early California (the Judge was also a State Senator) as well as some unusual features, including the surprise built into the fireplace and an art-deco bathroom. It also retells his daughter, Cornelia’s, love story with Jesse Sank and their eventual happiness. Although now over 150 years old, only two generations have lived in this house.
Sank Park encompasses the entire city block that Judge Lott bought in 1855 for $200. The garden contains a profusion of flowers, including an outstanding hybrid rose area. The park also contains a lovely gazebo as well as many colorful trees, and a picnic area in an orange grove. Don’t miss the carriage house with Jess and Cornelia’s 1922 Buick. The park is a beautiful location for weddings and other events.