Entry No. 26 — the Sacramento file — filed under: artist-built environment
Dragon House
An ordinary Curtis Park bungalow that Sacramento-born artist Raymond Gage began covering in hand-set mosaic tile in 1985, working roughly three years: a dragon winds across one side and a white tiger crouches nearby, with stained glass, themed landscaping, and statuary throughout — even the fire hydrant matches the aesthetic. It's still a private home, meant to be seen from the sidewalk, not entered.
The story
In 1985, Sacramento-born artist Raymond Gage looked at an ordinary residential bungalow on 22nd Street and decided the exterior needed a complete overhaul. Over roughly three years of painstaking manual labor, he covered the house in hand-set mosaic ceramic tiles, turning a quiet Curtis Park home into a dense, public-facing piece of outsider art.
A sprawling dragon coils across one side of the house while a white tiger crouches near the entry, flanked by stained glass panels, kinetic sculptures, mini topiaries, and custom statuary. The commitment was so thorough that even the municipal fire hydrant parked at the curb was integrated into the artistic scheme. You didn't hear it from us, but finding a city fire hydrant customized to match a private art installation is rare enough to make the sidewalk walk worth the detour alone.
What it's like
You are visiting a quiet residential street in Curtis Park, so keep your voice down and remain on the sidewalk. There are no doors to enter, no docents, and no tickets to buy—the house remains a private residence meant to be appreciated strictly from the public pavement. Plan for a dusk or early evening stroll when the streetlamps catch the glazed ceramics and backlit stained glass. Walk slowly, scan from the curb-side fire hydrant up to the roofline, take your photos from the street, and respect the residents by staying completely off the porch and lawn.
The move: A slow evening walk or bike ride through Curtis Park that dead-ends at 22nd Street specifically to look — no ticket, no docent, just the two of you and decades of tile work under streetlight.
- 📍 Curtis Park, Sacramento
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2816 22nd Street, Sacramento, CA 95818
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Asha Urban Baths — Pair your sidewalk art viewing with a soak and sauna session just over half a mile north along Broadway.
- Sacramento Historic City Cemetery — Continue your neighborhood walk a mile west to explore Victorian grave monuments and historic rose gardens.
- Rainbow Poles — Trade mosaic dragons for public street art by heading 1.2 miles north to check out 72 painted wooden utility poles.
- Botanica Cubayende — Head 1.5 miles south to transition from hand-crafted residential folk art to a working Santería botanica on Franklin Boulevard.
Good to know
Can I tour the inside of the house?
No. The Dragon House is a private residence. The artwork is strictly public-facing and designed to be viewed from the sidewalk.
Who built the Dragon House?
Sacramento-born artist Raymond Gage designed and hand-tiled the exterior, beginning his work in 1985 and spending about three years on the major installations.
How much does it cost to see?
It is completely free. You are simply viewing a neighborhood home from a public street.
When is the best time to visit?
Daylight hours offer the clearest view of the tile details, but early evening works well to see light hitting the stained glass panels.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · abc10.com · weirdca.com · Reddit · sacramentoappraisalblog.com
last checked: 2026-07-20