Kohl Mansion gives Burlingame a grand hilltop story

Kohl Mansion brings out Burlingame’s hill-country side. Frederick and Bessie Kohl built the mansion they called The Oaks between 1912 and 1914, when wealthy Bay Area families often wanted a Peninsula place with room, views, and a little distance from San Francisco.

The building is easy to remember because it feels oversized in a very early-1900s way. It had 63 rooms, a large Great Hall, a chapel, a wine cellar, and spaces meant for entertaining. Later, the Sisters of Mercy bought the house in 1924. Mercy High School opened in the mansion in 1932.

That change is what makes the story feel more local than fancy. A private estate became part of school life, music, events, and community memory. The Great Hall, once built for grand social gatherings, later served students and audiences.

If you pass through Burlingame and only see airport hotels or busy commercial streets, Kohl Mansion adds a different layer. It shows the older Peninsula, when country estates, bay views, and big brick houses sat above towns that were still growing.