We Are Fresno

Kearney Mansion: Home of the Raisin King

By KSEE News
July 5, 2011 Updated Jul 5, 2011 at 4:38 PM PDT

Seven miles west of downtown Fresno stands a local treasure that's been a part of our city for more than 100 years The Kearney Mansion was built in 1903 by M. Theo Kearney who at that time was known as the Raisin King.
Kearney was a major player in the development of the raisin industry in California.
The mansion has been preserved and maintained by the Fresno Historical Society, and is absolutely beautiful with much of the original furnishings intact.
Fresno Historical Society curator Sharon Hiigel says the mansion is a treasure for our community because it symbolizes the beginning of agriculture. She says Kearney was on the ground floor of all ag land development in the central valley. He started out as a developer and became a major raisin grower in his own right.

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