The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and The Winchester Mystery House are all well-known Bay Area landmarks, but we have our own historical landmarks right here in Belmont too.
Have you ever wondered what that strange circular building on Alameda de las Pulgas is? Although its whimsical appearance resembles a miniature Rapunzels’ Tower, there is much more backstory behind this structure than you think. Its name is the Belmont Kiosk, and there were big plans for the land surrounding it. According to punchmagazine.com and thedailyjournal.com, it was built in 1924, and its original purpose was to be a promotion office. The builders had a grand scheme to create Belmont Country Club Properties, a 1,000 acre community with a central country club, hiking trails, a golf course, a swimming pool, a clubhouse, large homes and more, at the outrageous price of $300. Unfortunately, poor financial decisions combined with The Great Depression is what led to the failure of this incomplete project. Belmont Country Club Properties may have not succeeded, but the kiosk still stands as a piece of Belmont history.
You’ve driven by The Van’s Restaurant countless times, but little did you know the rich history of this former Japanese teahouse. Perched on the top of a hill overlooking Belmont, The Van’s Restaurant was originally a teahouse, built to be a part of The Panama-Pacific International Exposition. According to paloaltoonline.com, it was later shipped from San Francisco to Belmont on a barge, to be used as a home. Upon arrival, it was pulled up a steep dirt trail by livestock back when it was just a 450 square foot structure. After serving its time as a residence, a new owner transformed it into a speakeasy, a place to serve alcohol when it was illegal in the US, (otherwise known as Prohibition.) After alcohol became legal, the building turned into a bar, and was later converted into an Italian restaurant. The Van’s Restaurant was shut down during covid, and it now rests as a memorable Belmont landmark.
The Emmet House has been standing in Belmont since 1885, but has resided in 2 different spots. According to belmont.gov.com, the former owner, Walter Emmet was a pioneer merchant. The house was built in 1855, and rested in its original spot for 123 years. Then in 2008, developers had different plans for The Emmet House’s location, and there was a risk of this historical piece being lost. Since it was a landmark with such significant history, locals didn’t want the house to be destroyed. So as a solution, The Emmet House was literally rolled to a new spot. On January 22, 2008, over 2,000 people gathered to watch the relocation of The Emmet House. It now stands on O’neil Avenue as a reminder of Belmont’s past.
You may have been unaware that so many distinctive landmarks were just in your backyard. The next time you are passing through one of these areas, take an extra second in your day to admire the unique turret of the Belmont Kiosk, or The Emmet House’s architecture. Pay attention to all the little things in Belmont – you never know if an ordinary building was shipped to Belmont on a barge. These special landmarks in our city each hold an important past, and serve as reminders of Belmont’s rich history.
