Ken Underwood - Board President We are pleased to share that Ken Underwood has stepped into the role of Board President of the North Star Historic Conservancy. Ken has been actively involved with North Star House for the past seven years, serving across multiple committees and contributing to the ongoing restoration effort. He approaches this role with a focus on making the house accessible to everyone, working collaboratively across the organization, and keeping the space op

The North Star House was filled with holiday cheer this season as we welcomed the community in for our annual Christmas celebration. Visitors wandered through the House, taking in the holiday decorations, getting a feel for the warmth and history that make this place so special. We loved seeing so many new faces walk through the doors, along with familiar ones who return year after year. Guests warmed up with mulled wine and hot cocoa. Carols echoed softly from room to room,

A gentle and timeless holiday glow fills the North Star House this season, thanks to the thoughtful Christmas décor created by Rebekah Freeman.

An inside look at the second floor of the North Star House, shared through the voices of the volunteers who are bringing it back to life.

On November 16, our community gathered for a moment many years in the making: the National Significance Celebration at the North Star House. Surrounded by friends, volunteers, supporters, and local leaders, we honored the historic designation that officially recognizes the House for its importance in architecture, literature, women’s history, and equal rights. The evening opened with remarks from our Board President, Paula Campbell , who spoke from the heart about the decades

We recently hosted a free community workshop with horticultural designer Molly Breen of New Wave Green , focusing on how to design native plant landscapes using Netafim irrigation systems. The event brought together local gardeners, volunteers, and community members interested in sustainable, water-wise landscaping. During the workshop, Molly walked participants through the fundamentals of Netafim drip irrigation: how it works, why it’s ideal for native plants, and how though

The North Star Historic Conservancy is proud to announce that the North Star House has been officially recognized as nationally significant in the National Register of Historic Places : a milestone that underscores the site’s vital place in American history. From the groundbreaking architecture of Julia Morgan, California’s first licensed woman architect, to the literary legacy of Mary Hallock Foote, the North Star House tells a remarkable story of innovation, culture, and co

The second-floor construction effort of the North Star House is one of the most ambitious and exciting projects underway at this historic 1905 estate. Reviving more than 5,000 square feet of long-dormant space requires not only vision but deep expertise, and we’re fortunate to have both. Leading this effort is Andy Wright, Construction Manager at the North Star House, whose decades-long career as a licensed general contractor and former owner of WrightBuilt Construction bring

This past weekend, the North Star House opened its doors for a special evening of gratitude and celebration: the annual State of the Star  event. Donors, sponsors, and friends gathered to hear updates on the year’s accomplishments and to see firsthand the incredible progress being made upstairs. Guests were given a rare opportunity to step inside the unfinished second floor — an area that has remained largely untouched for decades. Guided by the dedicated leaders overseeing c

The North Star House is calling on the community to help us plant the next phase of our native hedgerow, an inspiring project designed by Molly Breen to bring new life, color, and biodiversity to our historic grounds. Thanks to a generous grant of 100 native plants from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, we’re expanding this living landscape to provide essential habitat for pollinators and wildlife while creating a beautiful, sustainable border that complements