The Rengstorff House, built in 1867, is the oldest surviving house in Santa Clara County and one of the finest examples of Italianate Victorian architecture in the Bay Area. Henry Rengstorff was a German immigrant who made his fortune shipping grain from the bay's southern shore, and the house reflects the prosperity of the era — high ceilings, bay windows, and decorative cornices that would look entirely at home in San Francisco's Painted Ladies district.
The house was nearly demolished when it fell into disrepair in the 1960s, but was rescued, moved to its current location in Shoreline Park, and meticulously restored. It is now a City of Mountain View landmark and is open for free tours on weekend afternoons. The interior has been furnished to reflect the 1880s period, with period-appropriate wallpapers, carpets, and household objects.
Visiting the house is easily combined with Shoreline Park — it sits right at the park entrance off Shoreline Boulevard. Free admission.