LOS ALTOS, CA (Sept 23, 2025) – When the Winchester Mystery House celebrated its 100th anniversary two years ago, Robin Chapman was one of several historians asked to speak to mark the centennial. Intrigued by what heiress Sarah Winchester had done with the acreage surrounding the mansion, Chapman embarked on a research project that uncovered surprising discoveries. She will share these findings in a talk at Los Altos History Museum, “A Winchester Mystery in the Valley of Heart’s Delight,” on Wednesday, October 15, from 5:30 – 7:00 pm.
“Sarah was very wise in her use of the land as an investment, and a wise steward of the Winchester fortune,” Chapman said. “The original property had about 40 acres, and she acquired more and more over the years. What she did with that land is the story I will tell.”
In her talk, Chapman will reveal how Sarah Winchester’s investments helped shape a valley known for orchards and agriculture—the birthplace of brands such as Del Monte and Sunsweet.
A journalist, historian, and Los Altos native, Robin Chapman earned her Master’s in Journalism from UCLA and worked in broadcast news at KRON-TV and ABC-7 in Washington, D.C. She is the author of a California history trilogy—California Apricots: the Lost Orchards of Silicon Valley, Historic Bay Area Visionaries, and The Valley of Heart’s Delight: True Tales from Around the Bay—all from The History Press. Robin also writes a regular column for the Los Altos Town Crier.
Chapman’s presentation will move beyond the “mystery house” legend to highlight Sarah Winchester’s business savvy, including her investment in her sister Isabel Merriman’s Los Altos property. She will also introduce some of the other figures who shaped the Valley of Heart’s Delight during the nearly three decades Winchester lived there.
“California has a long history of innovation in business, and that tradition continues today,” Chapman said. “But Silicon Valley didn’t appear out of nowhere. It rose on the shoulders of the Valley’s early innovators. And that’s a story worth telling.”
Admission is $15/Person, free for Museum members. Space is limited; advance registration is required at losaltoshistory.org/aWinchesterMystery.
Los Altos History Museum began in 1977 with the opening of the historic J. Gilbert Smith House, built in 1905 on 14+ acres of apricot orchards planted by Mr. Smith. In 2001, Los Altos History Museum opened the modern building next door, which houses the Museum’s collections, permanent and changing exhibits, store and administrative offices. The Museum and its grounds are available for rent during evenings and weekends. Its collections are owned by the City of Los Altos and are managed by an independent nonprofit organization, whose staff and volunteers are responsible for all programs and operations.
The Museum is open Thursday through Sunday, from noon-4pm. Admission is free. Tours of the J. Gilbert Smith House are available during open hours. The outdoor agricultural exhibit, gardens and picnic area are accessible beyond Museum hours. For more information, visit: losaltoshistory.org, email hello@losaltoshistory.org, or phone 650.948.9427 x14.
Media Contact: Marketing@losaltoshistory.org
Los Altos History Museum: Diane Holcomb, 650.948.9427 x14, dholcomb@losaltoshistory.org
