Docent-led tours are free to the public and currently offered three days a week: Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to noon. 

Enter the West Patio Door of the Rengstorff House during open house times, and you can inquire further about the history of the Rengstorff family; the restoration project; as well as imagine early Mountain View pioneers who lived circa 1867 when the house was originally constructed in the area. Tours generally last 30 minutes, but docents can tailor them to meet your needs. During open house times, you may arrive at any time and wait for the docent to become available to provide the next tour.

We are seeking volunteers to ensure greater consistency of public access to the home. For additional information, click here or email Kristina.Perino@MountainView.gov.

3D Tour

If you are not able to visit or would like additional information, please check out a 3D tour of the facility provided by the Friends of "R" House.

Friends of "R" House

The Friends of “R” House is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that serves to contribute to the preservation and public knowledge of the Rengstorff House, the Rengstorff family, and the history of Mountain View via historical research, educational events, and community outreach activities. For additional information about how to support and/or get more involved, please visit friendsofrhouse.org. When visiting the Rengstorff House, visitors can provide donations to the Friends. 

Thanks to the advocacy of The Friends of “R” House, the Rengstorff House stands proudly today as one of the finest examples of Victorian Italianate architecture on the West Coast, as well as a resource for the community to enjoy. Thanks to research conducted on the family and its role in early Mountain View’s development, on each tour you’ll have the opportunity to: admire the interior furnishings, fixtures, and artifacts; enjoy old-time music on an Edison machine and working phonograph; and appreciate early forms of technology, including the Smith Premier No. 2 typewriter and Magneto Box telephone.

Directions

We’re located at 3070 N. Shoreline Boulevard, Mountain View, CA 94043 (within Shoreline at Mountain View, a 750-acre wildlife and recreation area).

Additional Information about Visiting

Docent-led tours are conducted downstairs portion of the house only, as the upstairs portion of the house now serves as City of Mountain View – Shoreline administrative offices.

Unless the house is being rented, you may visit the exterior grounds from dawn until dusk, 364 days of the year. Outside, you may enjoy the grassy areas, brick patios, and gardens, as well as the restored windmill and replica Tank House. Interpretive signs also shed light on the windmill and house history.

For additional information about volunteering, or to schedule a group tour, call (650) 903-6073.