Discover 1877 San Francisco Victorian with secret garden that went TikTok viral
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- 149-year-old Pacific Heights Victorian lists for $6 million after estate sale.
- Property offers 5,700 sq ft, six bedrooms and a rare 3,000 sq ft private garden.
- Family seeks buyer to preserve historic fabric after house went viral on TikTok.
An immense 149-year-old Victorian home in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood is on the market for the first time in more than 50 years — a historic residence that offers an almost unheard-of amenity in the city and enough moxie to go viral on social media.
Originally owned by a prominent neighborhood doctor who made house calls by horse and carriage, and later stewarded for more than five decades by an influential and creative family, the timeless and updated 5,700-square-foot home is for sale for $6 million, according to City Real Estate.
The six-bedroom home at 2101 Divisadero St. has remained in the Thornton family for more than five decades, a representative of the listing agency City Real Estate said in an email. Anne Hardy Rightor Thornton is remembered as one of the first women to earn a juris doctor law degree and an MBA degree from Stanford. A former buyer for I. Magnin and The Emporium, she helped shape the city’s fashion scene as a retail entrepreneur and co-founder of Sonoma Country Store, according to City Real Estate.
She also served on boards for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and chaired the California Pacific Medical Center during a pivotal merger with Sutter Health.
Anne Thornton’s ex-husband, Laney Thornton, co-founded Eileen West, the iconic clothing brand, with neighbor and business partner Eileen Westerbeke.
After Anne died in 2024, an estate sale went viral on TikTok and Instagram, inviting hundreds of young San Franciscans for a rare public glimpse inside the Victorian.
Built in 1877, the stately residence blends timeless Victorian character with thoughtful modern updates. But what truly sets the property apart is the 3,000-square-foot private garden that sits on a second, adjacent lot and is included in the sale. The “hidden garden” is on a scale of a neighborhood park — yet is entirely private — and tucked behind the mansion. In a city where outdoor space comes at a premium, the lush garden is a world apart.
Only two families have ever owned the home, whose legacy begins with neighborhood physician Dr. Charles Fottrell. Fottrell restored the home after the 1906 earthquake, and his name is still etched in glass over the home’s front entrance.
The mansion’s main floor, filled with natural south-facing light, features soaring ceilings, original woodwork and a grand dining room overlooking a magnolia-lined street, according to the property description. The bright chef’s kitchen, with Carrara marble counters, high-end appliances and a fireplace lounge, anchors the space.
Upstairs are five bedrooms, including a sunlit primary suite with a walkout balcony, while the versatile lower level provides family and media rooms, guest quarters, a secondary kitchen, office, laundry and gym—ideal for extended living or entertaining at scale. An elevator, upgraded foundation and modern systems add comfort.
“Definitely one of the best and most beautiful homes in San Francisco,” a viewer posted to City Real Estate’s Instagram account.
As the next chapter is set to begin, the Thornton family hopes for a buyer who will cherish the home’s soul and longevity.
“My parents very much embraced the history,” Charles Thornton, who grew up in the house, told the San Francisco Chronicle. “They were stewards for this house, and we want to keep that tradition going—making sure that we can find someone who will pay it forward and keep preserving it as well.”
The listing agent is David Cohen of City Real Estate.
This story was originally published January 20, 2026 at 11:42 AM.
