Villa Montalvo
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Montalvo Arts Center
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Villa Montalvo
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| Location | 15400 Montalvo Rd., Saratoga, California |
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| Coordinates | 37°14′26″N 122°1′49″W / 37.24056°N 122.03028°WCoordinates: 37°14′26″N 122°1′49″W / 37.24056°N 122.03028°W |
| Area | 177 acres (72 ha) |
| Built | 1912–14 |
| Architect |
William Curlett Charles Gottschalk |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Mediterranean Revival, Italian-style villa |
| NRHP Reference # | 78000784 |
| Added to NRHP | May 1, 1978 |
The Montalvo Arts Center is a non-profit center for the arts in Saratoga, California, United States. Open to the public, Montalvo comprises a cultural and arts center, a park, hiking trails and the historic Villa Montalvo, an Italian Mediterranean Revival mansion nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The mansion and estate were constructed from 1912–14 by California statesman and businessman James Duval Phelan. After Phelan's death, the entire estate was donated to California as a park and then a cultural and arts center as it exists today. The arts center maintains the estate in partnership with Santa Clara County. The mansion is a historic landmark, and in 1978 it was awarded inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
The grounds of the villa now encompass 175 acres (71 ha), more than the original 160 acres (65 ha) purchased by Phelan. The estate boasts several large structures as well as gardens and untouched natural areas. Montalvo includes two theaters, an art gallery, the historic Villa Montalvo, an artist residency complex, hiking trails and gardens.
The mansion itself boasts 19 rooms and two stories. The first floor of the mansion used to host art exhibits, but is now open only for the many weddings and other occasions that are held there.
The grounds include several gardens embellished with marble sculptures and garden structures. The Front Lawn is sometimes used as a theater for some of Montalvo's dramatic presentations, and the woods behind are open to the public. Since its bequest to the people of California, hiking trails through the surrounding Redwood-speckled hills have been added.
In 1911, James D. Phelan, a three-term mayor of San Francisco who would go on to be California's first popularly elected US Senator, purchased 160 acres (65 ha) in the Saratoga countryside and foothills.
Phelan began construction of the mansion in 1912. The initial supervising architect was William Curlett. When he died in 1914, his son, Alex Curlett, took over supervision along with partner Charles E. Gottschalk. The construction of the building was completed that same year.
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