Grand Staircase

A winding path through the house's dark history.

It is often mistakenly believed to be the site of Hugh Crain's death, but in the novel, he died in a carriage accident, and in the 2018 Netflix series, Hugh Crain (the father) dies in the Red Room, not from a fall on the staircase.

Lore & Background

Hugh Crain, the builder of Hill House, is often incorrectly said to have died at the Grand Staircase after falling from it. In reality, the novel states he died in a carriage accident, while the 2018 Netflix series depicts his death in the Red Room. The staircase itself is described as a dark, winding structure that seems to shift and change, adding to the house's disorienting and menacing atmosphere.

Reader's Guide

The Grand Staircase is the site of John Rimbauer's death, who threw himself from an upper stained-glass window. The interior of the house appears to change or increase in size, yet only from the inside, which may affect the staircase. The staircase is also where April Rimbauer vanished while playing in the kitchen, leaving only her doll behind.