Help Re-open the
Camron-Stanford House!

The house has been closed to the public since August 2024 and is at risk of permanent closure.
We need your support to reopen.

“The Lady on the Lake”

The iconic Camron-Stanford House has stood on the edge of Lake Merritt for 150 years. The house is one of 14 grand Victorian estates that were developed by Samuel Merritt along Lake Merritt and today it is the only one that remains. The house was home to several prominent Oakland families from 1876 until 1907 when it became the first museum of Oakland. The museum has connected generations of Oakland residents with the City’s history. The house is a designated Oakland historic landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sudden closure in August 2024

For the last 50 years, the Camron-Stanford House Preservation Association has cared for the house and kept it open to the public.
In August 2024, the Association received notice from the City of Oakland that our 20-year lease would not be renewed, with instructions to cease operations. Public access stopped, museum staff were laid off, our tenants moved out, and the House’s financial reserves were depleted. With no plan to reopen, the house was at risk of falling into disrepair.

Reopening Spring 2026

In February 2026, with support from the community, the Association rallied to resecure our lease in renewed partnership with the City of Oakland to reopen the house. Volunteers mobilized to raise funds, organize supporters, and return to sustainable operations.

Fire April 2026

Just three weeks after announcing our reopening, on April 4, 2026, the House suffered a devastating fire. Thanks to the immediate response of 25 Oakland firefighters, the damage was contained to less than 10% of the building. What could have been a total loss was narrowly avoided. Incredibly, the historic rooms and artifacts were untouched by damage.

What’s Next for the Camron-Stanford House?

Now, as we recover from the fire, reopening efforts are underway but, without dedicated funding, the future of the house is uncertain. We were operating with only a small group of volunteers and a razor-thin margin before the fire and now our plans to return to sustainable income are delayed. It will be months before we can reopen the museum, secure new upstairs tenants, and host events.

A Call to Action

We need support from the community to preserve this house and its history for future generations. In preserving the house, we can revitalize it as a shared community space for Oakland’s arts, history, and gathering. We believe Oakland’s Lake Merritt community deserves to enjoy this beautiful house and its gardens.

To support our reopening, we are looking for donations, volunteers, and supporters. Donations will go toward: (1) the house’s operational costs (insurance, security, utilities), (2) rehiring essential staff, and (3) relaunching museum programming and events.

In community,

The Camron-Stanford House Preservation Association

The Camron-Stanford House Preservation Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN #94-2210551). Contributions are tax-deductible.

To Support the Camron-Stanford House

• Donate to the reopening campaign at the link above or to our fire recovery fund on Gofundme gofundme.com/save-the-camronstanford-house

• Sign this petition from the Oakland Heritage Alliance to the Oakland City Council. Sign here.

• Volunteer as a Museum Docent, help with fire recovery, and more. Sign up here.

• Subscribe to email updates on our reopening. Sign up here.

• Follow us on Instagram www.instagram.com/camronstanfordand Facebook facebook.com/camronstanford
  
  Email us at admin@cshouse.org to learn more about our reopening plans.

The Camron-Stanford turns 150 years old in 2026. Shown here in 1876, the year it was built.