<P> When Winchester died, all of her possessions (apart from the house) were bequeathed to her niece and personal secretary . Her niece then took everything she wanted and sold the rest in a private auction . It supposedly took six trucks working eight hours a day for six weeks to remove all of the furniture from the home, an account disputed by Winchester's biographer . Mrs. Winchester made no mention of the mansion in her will, and appraisers considered the house worthless due to damage caused by the earthquake, the unfinished design and the impractical nature of its construction . It was sold at auction to a local investor for over $135,000, and subsequently leased for 10 years to John and Mayme Brown, who eventually purchased the house . In February 1923, five months after Winchester's death, the house was opened to the public, with Mayme Brown serving as the first tour guide . </P> <P> Today the home is owned by Winchester Investments LLC, a privately held company representing the descendants of John and Mayme Brown . The home retains unique touches that reflect Mrs. Winchester's beliefs and her reported preoccupation with warding off malevolent spirits . These spirits are said to have directly inspired her as to the way the house should be built . The number thirteen and spider web motifs, which carried spiritual significance for her, occur throughout the house . </P> <P> In the early 1990s the Winchester property had parapsychologist, anomalist and paranormal investigator Christopher Chacon conduct the only in - depth scientific investigation (30 - day around - the - clock analysis) of the reported "haunt phenomena" on the property . </P> <P> In 2016, it was announced that another room was found: an attic space that contains a pump organ, Victorian couch, dress form, sewing machine and paintings . This room was made available for viewing by the public . </P>

What is the real story of the winchester house