An icon in Old Town San Diego and nationwide for ghost hunters, the Whaley House Museum is a well-liked addition to many San Diego itineraries. This Greek revival-style house is an official California Historic Landmark, a museum, and a magical hotspot.
The home was inbuilt 1857 by Thomas Whaley, and it was the location of a number of tragedies which have led to its haunted popularity.
The house opened to the general public in 1960 as a museum and has had a live-in caretaker since 2007. Several excursions and tickets can be found, together with self-guided daytime excursions, guided night excursions, and even an after-hours paranormal investigation tour.
Quick History and Who Haunts the Whaley House
Thomas Whaley, the unique builder and proprietor of the house, was a New York City native that relocated to California hoping to capitalize on enterprise alternatives as a result of gold rush.
Upon its completion in 1857, it turned often known as the best home in Southern California, constructed with bricks made on the Whaley property. Whaley House hosted San Diego’s first business theater, a county courthouse, and a bilingual common retailer.
Many consider that ghosts hang-out the Whaley House. In 1858, child Thomas Whaley Jr. died of scarlet fever in the home, and it’s believed that his ghost nonetheless haunts the property.
Additionally, in 1885, the Whaleys’ daughter Violet died by suicide on the home’s second flooring. Her ghost can also be stated to roam the premises nonetheless.
However, probably the most important dying related to the Whaley House is the execution of James Robinson, a convicted thief, who was hanged in 1852 on the property.
The Whaley household house was constructed on the identical spot the place the gallows as soon as stood. Visitors to the home have reported seeing Robinson’s ghost lurking within the hallways, or feeling his presence across the web site the place he was executed.
Whaley House Visit Highlights
Here are some highlights of the historic Whaley House:
- Original Antiques and Furniture: The Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) has labored onerous to revive many elements of the house to seize the texture of the mid to late 1800s. There are items on show which can be authentic to the Whaley House.
- Lively Tour Guides Make for an Entertaining Experience: Many guests comment that their tour information was their favourite a part of the expertise. They are educated, and these tour guides do their greatest to get into character to ship a humorous and unforgettable expertise.
- Paranormal Investigation Tour: This guided tour takes place after hours. On this tour, you might be proven rooms not accessible to most people throughout regular enterprise hours. You’re additionally equipped with ghost looking and monitoring gear.
- Excellent Location for Shopping and Eating: Old Town is a well-liked vacation spot for vacationers and locals. Peek inside artisan outlets, get pleasure from world-class meals, and expertise dwell music and a vigorous vibe, all inside strolling distance of the Whaley House.
- Historical Significance: The Whaley household is usually referred to as “The Pioneer Family of San Diego.” The Whaley household was integral in bolstering San Diego’s rising economic system by opening shops and companies within the Old Town district and serving to San Diego blossom in its infancy.
Things to Know Before Visiting the Whaley House
Before visiting the Whaley House, take a look at important particulars like hours, ticket costs, close by meals, present outlets, and parking.
Tickets and Hours
The Whaley House is open day by day. Reservations should not required for daytime excursions however could be useful throughout summer time months or weekends.
Visitors can select from three ticket choices. A daytime self-guided tour prices $13.30 per particular person, and a night guided tour prices $18.00 per particular person. The after-hours paranormal investigation is $94.05 per particular person.
Admission can also be lined by the Go San Diego All-Inclusive and Explorer sightseeing passes that embody numerous different San Diego sights comparable to San Diego Zoo, USS Midway Museum, and the Old Town Trolley, which can assist you get to The Whaley Museum from stops across the County.
PLEASE NOTE: Go San Diego passes should not qualifying tickets for the annual Kids Free San Diego promotion in October.
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Cafes and Restaurants Nearby
Though there are not any onsite choices for meals, there’s a plethora of excellent eats inside strolling distance of the Whaley House.
Right behind Whaley House although is the New Orleans Creole Cafe, housed in a late Eighteen Nineties constructing. You also can take a look at Old Town Mexican Cafe, Cafe Coyote, or Harney Sushi for some high quality meals after having fun with your tour. There can also be a cigar lounge and olive oil store close by.
Gift Shop
There is a superb present store onsite referred to as the Whaley House Museum Shop. Beyond carrying your typical souvenirs comparable to t-shirts, mugs, and magnets, this present store additionally carries an assortment of Mexicana-themed objects comparable to sugar skulls and Dia De Los Muertos items.
The store additionally carries quite a lot of paranormal-themed items, comparable to books and ghost-hunting kits.
Parking
Free parking is situated simply north of the Whaley House off Harney road. The parking zone is thought to replenish shortly, so come early and with loads of time earlier than your tour begins to safe a spot.
There are additionally different small parking tons situated all through the Old Town San Diego in addition to road parking.
Top 5 Unique Facts About the Whaley House
Discover extra concerning the legendary Whaley House with these fascinating information about this widespread San Diego vacation spot.
- America’s Most Haunted House. It was deemed “America’s Most Haunted House” by a number of sources, together with LIFE Magazine and The Travel Channel. It was even formally acknowledged as haunted by the US Commerce Department within the Sixties. The Whaley House has embraced the nickname and even trademarked it for advertising and marketing functions. The Whaley House is talked about and featured in a number of paranormal television exhibits, books, and guides.
- Photographic Evidence for Ghosts on Display. It’s commonplace for cell telephones and cameras to be prohibited at some historic websites. This will not be the case on the Whaley House. Taking footage is inspired! So a lot so that there’s a whole part on the Whaley House for “ghost encounters” the place they share guests’ footage which will or could not characteristic spirits, ghosts, or paranormal exercise. If you seize one thing eerie, submit your picture or use the #whaleyhousesd hashtag on social media to share it.
- House of Many Uses. Besides being the primary house constructed formally in Southern California, the Whaley home additionally turned San Diego’s first business theater. It additionally served as a county courthouse and a common retailer. The house turned an essential piece of the neighborhood, even inflicting division between Old Town and New Town residents within the late 1800s.
- Due to Repeated Tragedy, The Whaleys Moved Out. After a number of members of the family’ deaths, together with Thomas Whaley’s daughter’s suicide, the Whaley relocated to downtown San Diego. The Whaley Home sat vacant for a few years afterward till Thomas Whaley’s son Francis moved again in and made efforts to revive the house within the early 1900s.
- The Haunting Began Before the Whaleys. The haunting historical past probably started earlier than the Whaleys moved in. It’s reported {that a} man named Jim Robinson was held on the house web site earlier than Whaley bought it. Thomas Whaley even witnessed the hanging himself. Since then, a number of members of the Whaley household have handed away within the house. The property additionally was once the location of a gallows and cemetery earlier than Thomas Whaley bought the land.
Why We Love This Haunted House
The greatest purpose to like the enduring Whaley House is its versatile exercise possibility that pulls historical past buffs, ghost hunters, households, and curious vacationers alike.
For those who spook simply and don’t like ghost tales, this could be a enjoyable and lighthearted possibility for a daytime self-guided tour. During the daytime excursions, you possibly can go at your individual tempo and focus as a lot or as little on the haunted side.
Additionally, the home is a well-preserved instance of mid-Nineteenth-century structure and affords a glimpse into the lives of one among California’s pioneer households.
Besides its historic and paranormal attracts, we love the situation. There are many enjoyable issues to do in Old Town San Diego with Whaley House towards the highest of that checklist. Be positive to incorporate time to discover the eating places and buying within the space. If you’re contemplating staying within the space, examine our checklist of greatest Old Town San Diego motels.