The Mansions of Pacific Heights

THE MANSIONS OF PACIFIC HEIGHTS, a fine art hardcover ‘coffee table’ photo book, was published in 2016.

This colorful photo book features exterior shots of the beautiful and impressive mansions in Pacific Heights, one of the most exclusive residential neighborhoods in San Francisco.

The book also includes sections devoted to grand entryways and doorways, windows, balconies, porte cocheres and garages, flourishes such as stained glass, moldings, and reliefs, and the beautiful views of the bay and cityscape that Pacific Heights is blessed with.

Pacific Heights features an eclectic mix of architectural styles which are also showcased in the book.  

Limited first edition signed copies are available for purchase for your enjoyment or as a gift for family, friends, colleagues, or special customers. A limited number of signed copies are currently available at $40.00 each which includes shipping and the applicable sales tax. Discounts are offered for bulk purchases.

“The Mansions of Pacific Heights allows us a close-up peek at some of the most beautiful house exteriors in the city. We can linger over elaborate doorways, finely wrought balconies and gates, and stunning windows, all details that we might miss driving by. Lewis Sommer’s book is a treat for those of us who enjoy San Francisco architecture in all its variegated glory.”

Susan Goldstein, City Archivist
San Francisco History Center/Book Arts and Special Collections
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

My mother was a very successful real estate broker in an affluent area in New Jersey and from her I always had an interest in beautiful homes. And growing up I was an aspiring architect. When I moved to San Francisco in 1980 my apartment was located in Pacific Heights on Broadway with beautiful views of the bay. I loved to walk along Broadway to see the mansions and stately homes, enjoy the sensational bay views, and exercise at the Lyon Street staircase. After moving to Marin County in 1981 I still enjoyed showing friends and customers of my tour company the mansions along Broadway. In 2015 I decided to work on a photo project that showcased the colorful doors of the homes in Pacific Heights and the following year I changed gears and began photographing my favorite homes and mansions in this exclusive residential district. The book was published in 2016.