North Star House

10/12/2026

There’s something especially lovely about autumn in a historic home. All of the quiet corners and little details.

10/08/2026

Thank you to the Rotary Club for welcoming North Star House docent Carla Holtzclaw and sharing such a thoughtful recap of the House’s history and the remarkable women who helped shape its legacy!

Carla had the opportunity to reconnect with Ed Scofield, pictured alongside her, who was involved with the North Star House during its early restoration efforts. It’s always special to see people who have been part of the House’s history continuing to stay connected.

We appreciate the Rotary Club's interest in our history and the opportunity to share the North Star House story with our community!

Yesterday, we welcomed Carla Holtzclaw for a fascinating presentation on the history of one of our local gems, the North Star House, and the remarkable women whose stories helped shape its legacy.

Built in 1905, the North Star House holds significance far beyond its connection to our area’s mining history. We learned about Julia Morgan, California’s first licensed female architect, who designed the home as one of her first major commissions and later went on to design Hearst Castle. The North Star House also influenced her designs for WWI Hostess Houses, which provided safe gathering spaces for soldiers and their families.

We also learned about Mary Hallock Foote, an accomplished author and illustrator who lived and worked at the North Star House. Through her writing, Foote challenged societal expectations for women and advocated for education and careers.

Today, the North Star House is nationally recognized for its significance in architecture, literature, women’s history, and equal rights.

Thank you, Carla, for sharing the incredible history behind a place right here in our own community! 💙💛

10/08/2026

Dance has a way of bringing people together, and Diana Cushway has helped make that happen at the North Star House.

Through her love of dance and dedication to community, Diana is helping bring new energy and connection to this historic space. We’re excited to share her story and the role dance continues to play in bringing people together at the House.

Read more about Diana and her work in our latest journal post:

Meet choreographer and educator Diana Cushway and discover how her career in dance, art and community collaboration is inspiring programs at North Star House.

10/08/2026

Have you got your tickets to An Autumnal Evening in Another Era yet? Spend a fall evening stepping into another era!Join us Saturday, October 17 from 4–7 PM for an evening of historic dances, card games, seasonal refreshments, traditional activities, and special demonstrations throughout the house!

10/06/2026

The stained glass wreath in the Reception Room holds one of the more personal stories connected to North Star House.

It was created in memory of Agnes Foote, the youngest daughter of Arthur De Wint Foote and Mary Hallock Foote, and offers a deeply personal glimpse into the family who once called North Star House home.

Read more: https://www.northstarhouse.org/journal/agnes-foote-stained-glass-north-star-house

10/04/2026

North Star House is proud to serve as the venue sponsor for an upcoming Fireside Chat with Kay Sprinkel Grace.

Join our local nonprofit community on October 8 for “Headwinds, Not Roadblocks: Rewriting the Story Nonprofits Tell Themselves About Money,” a conversation about fundraising, financial challenges, and how nonprofits can rethink the stories they tell themselves about money.

We’re happy to provide the space for conversations like these to happen in our community.

October 8 | 5:30–7:00 PM
North Star House, Grass Valley
Pre-Registration Required by October 6

Join Kay Sprinkel Grace at North Star House in Grass Valley on October 8 for a free fireside chat on fundraising, philanthropy and nonprofit leadership.

10/03/2026

It’s been one year since we sat down with Carol Miller to discuss Heritage Garden.

10/03/2026

Learn more about the North Star Cottage:

Discover the history of the North Star Cottage, where Arthur and Mary Hallock Foote lived from 1895 to 1905 before moving into Julia Morgan’s North Star House.

10/02/2026

The Foote family cottage is no longer standing, but its story is still part of the North Star House property.

As buildings on the property deteriorated and became safety hazards, the cottage was eventually burned by local firefighters as a training exercise. North Star House itself was once headed toward a similar fate before preservation efforts intervened and the historic home was saved.

Today, you can still find this sign marking the site of the former cottage. The scale model pictured here was created by North Star House volunteer Mark Hermes, giving us a glimpse of a building that has otherwise disappeared from the landscape.

It’s an important reminder of just how much of this property could have been lost, and why preserving what remains matters.

10/01/2026

The Heritage Garden is settling into fall. It’s one of those in-between moments at North Star House, with the last bits of summer color mixed in with the first signs of autumn.