The home's switchback stairwell consists of seven flights that include 44 total steps but only rises 9 feet. The strange choice of two-inch high steps, which resembles a ramp more than a stairway, is believed to have been built to accommodate Sarah Winchester's arthritis. However, there is only one stairwell with these curious measurements in the house.
Winchester exhibited an interest in the occult, which may have accounted for her obsession with the number 13. The windows of the house have 13 panes, the walls have 13 panels, and 13 cupolas adorn the greenhouse. Every staircase with the exception of the switchback staircase is made up of 13 steps.
The Winchester Mystery House contains several chimneys, which seems normal for a home in central California. However, many of the chimneys at the Mystery House serve no purpose. Some chimneys end just inches before the ceiling. The superstitious Winchester believed that ghosts appeared and disappeared through chimneys, leading her to accommodate her house spirits.
The Winchester Mystery House includes miles of hallways that twist throughout the mansion, even disappearing into secret passageways. It is believed that Winchester stealthily moved in a roundabout fashion throughout her home making use of these disappearing entrances hidden behind walls. Her staff reported Winchester's unsettling ability to sneak up on staff to watch them perform their daily tasks.
It is reported that Winchester's house ran into many construction issues throughout the 36 years of construction. However, when a room failed to meet Winchester's needs, the carpenters would build around the room and continue on. This left strange details, such as a stairway leading into a ceiling and doors opening only to walls.
