Go tour this Painted Lady after Sunday mimosas

The new generation of San Francisco tourist may never have seen the omnipresent 90s sitcom Full House; but they’re on TikTok. And so is George, the 68-year-old owner of the Blue Painted Lady.

The house is a living museum of San Francisco iconography, one that outshines the Mrs. Doubtfire home down the street and The Princess Diaries mansion on Lyon. We all want to picnic like the Tanner family in Alamo Square and experience that idyllic dream, or at least to show all our friends on Instagram that we did.

George Patrick Horsfall offers tours of his home on 712 Steiner for a suggested $30, although this feels like a quietly-known activity taking place since the pandemic. But tourists are happy to see him —

“People come here for all kinds of reasons, like just to say that they were here,” he told me, then gestured upstairs. “Usually when I get there up to that room, something grabs them and they make a connection. And honestly when people cry, I usually have to look away, so that I don’t cry.”

The rooms are filled with antiques and heirlooms passed down through generations of Horsfall’s family, who first set foot in San Francisco during the Gold Rush. He takes people from the first floor through the third, describing heritage from Ireland, England, and Sweden. George’s family has been in San Francisco since the mid-1800s, and the house is packed with mementos:

We spotted a ticket from the Golden Gate Bridge’s opening, a photo of the family’s first house in the Mission, two generations of wedding cake tops, a photo of people gathering in Alamo Square as the city burned after the 1906 earthquake, and another of a woman cooking on a sidewalk stove. It all feels equal parts museum as it does a warm, lived-in home.

This is not The Bold Italic’s first visit; George welcomed OG writer Jessica Saia in 2012, back when he hosted soirées alongside his mother Catherine. She was once a model and longtime teacher of more than 40 years, focusing on primary education but also with students at USF and San Quentin prison. She and George hosted guests up to three times in one day, cooking all the food themselves. I took a moment to absorb how much work that would have been. I’ve never successfully cooked for more than a few people at once, let alone three seatings of 60.

George inherited the home in 2021 after Catherine passed away, mere hours before the Jan. 6 riots. He continues to welcome friends and strangers, including London Breed and Mark Farrell in their recent bids for election. In the past, they’ve also had Alice Walker — author of The Color Purple — and mini Tracy Chapman concerts. A private salon George hosted just this month previewed a $20 million Stradivari violin in search of a buyer.

George remains humble despite the fanfare, and he’s grateful the house helped him meet San Franciscans and tourists alike. But yeah — he’s also a bit famous; His dogs are TikTok influencers and have their faces on collectible Starbucks mugs. The Blue Painted Lady is also on board games, in the airport, and featured on countless other cultural memorabilia.

Too often people in the public eye take it for granted, but George appreciates and makes the most of this unusual situation.

When I asked why George thinks there is so much interest in his house compared to other Painted Ladies, he said there are so many homes more beautiful than his, but it’s the life inside the blue Victorian that draws attention. Everyone recognizes these pastel beauties, but few know the real stories behind their doors. He said:

“Living in this house and being open to new experiences and people have led to wonderful stories, lasting memories, and years-long friendships.”

// Visit the Blue Painted Lady on Instagram. Text 415 377–8559 to arrange a tour.

Courtney Muro is a San Francisco-based content strategist, producer, designer, and creator.

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