Henry Geilfuss House

The Henry Geilfuss House at 811 Treat Avenue serves as a time capsule from the height of one of San Francisco's most prolific architectural careers. Built in 1882, this residence was the personal home of Henry Geilfuss, a German-born architect who shaped much of the city's Victorian-era aesthetic. Unlike the dense rows of attached townhouses common in this neighborhood, Geilfuss designed his own home as a detached Italianate villa. By choosing to build it for himself, he created a showcase for the decorative details and sophisticated wood-frame craftsmanship that he would later incorporate into his many professional commissions across the city.