An icon in Outdated City San Diego and nationwide for ghost hunters, the Whaley Home Museum is a well-liked addition to many San Diego itineraries.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 repute.
The house opened to the general public in 1960 as a museum and has had a live-in caretaker since 2007. A number of excursions and tickets can be found, together with self-guided daytime excursions, guided night excursions, and even an after-hours paranormal investigation tour.
Fast Historical past and Who Haunts the Whaley Home
Thomas Whaley, the unique builder and proprietor of the house, was a New York Metropolis native that relocated to California hoping to capitalize on enterprise alternatives because of the gold rush.
Upon its completion in 1857, it grew to become referred to as the best home in Southern California, constructed with bricks made on the Whaley property. Whaley Home hosted San Diego’s first business theater, a county courthouse, and a bilingual basic retailer.
Many imagine that ghosts hang-out the Whaley Home. In 1858, child Thomas Whaley Jr. died of scarlet fever in the home, and it’s believed that his ghost nonetheless haunts the property.
Moreover, 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.
Nonetheless, probably the most vital demise related to the Whaley Home 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. Guests to the home have reported seeing Robinson’s ghost lurking within the hallways, or feeling his presence across the website the place he was executed.
Whaley Home Go to Highlights
Listed below are some highlights of the historic Whaley Home:
- Authentic Antiques and Furnishings: The Save Our Heritage Group (SOHO) has labored onerous to revive many points of the house to seize the texture of the mid to late 1800s. There are items on show which might be unique to the Whaley Home.
- Full of life Tour Guides Make for an Entertaining Expertise: Many guests comment that their tour information was their favourite a part of the expertise. They’re 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 of the people throughout regular enterprise hours. You’re additionally provided with ghost looking and monitoring gear.
- Glorious Location for Buying and Consuming: Outdated City is a well-liked vacation spot for vacationers and locals. Peek inside artisan outlets, get pleasure from world-class meals, and expertise reside music and a energetic vibe, all inside strolling distance of the Whaley Home.
- Historic 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 Outdated City district and serving to San Diego blossom in its infancy.
Issues to Know Earlier than Visiting the Whaley Home
Earlier than visiting the Whaley Home, take a look at important particulars like hours, ticket costs, close by meals, reward outlets, and parking.
Tickets and Hours
The Whaley Home is open day by day. Reservations should not required for daytime excursions however might be useful throughout summer time months or weekends.
Guests can select from three ticket options. A daytime self-guided tour prices $13.30 per individual, and a night guided tour prices $18.00 per individual. The after-hours paranormal investigation is $94.05 per individual.
Admission can also be lined by the Go San Diego All-Inclusive and Explorer sightseeing passes that embody numerous different San Diego sights reminiscent of San Diego Zoo, USS Halfway Museum, and the Outdated City 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 Youngsters Free San Diego promotion in October.
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Cafes and Eating places Close by
Although there are not any onsite choices for meals, there’s a plethora of excellent eats inside strolling distance of the Whaley Home.
Proper behind Whaley Home although is the New Orleans Creole Cafe, housed in a late Eighteen Nineties constructing. You too can take a look at Outdated City Mexican Cafe, Cafe Coyote, or Harney Sushi for some high quality meals after having fun with your tour. There’s additionally a cigar lounge and olive oil store close by.
Reward Store
There is a wonderful reward store onsite referred to as the Whaley Home Museum Store. Past carrying your typical souvenirs reminiscent of t-shirts, mugs, and magnets, this reward store additionally carries an assortment of Mexicana-themed gadgets reminiscent of sugar skulls and Dia De Los Muertos items.
The store additionally carries a wide range of paranormal-themed items, reminiscent of books and ghost-hunting kits.
Parking
Free parking is situated simply north of the Whaley Home off Harney road. The parking zone is understood to refill shortly, so come early and with loads of time earlier than your tour begins to safe a spot.
There are additionally different small parking heaps situated all through the Outdated City San Diego in addition to road parking.
High 5 Distinctive Information In regards to the Whaley Home
Uncover extra in regards to the legendary Whaley Home with these attention-grabbing info about this widespread San Diego vacation spot.
- America’s Most Haunted Home. It was deemed “America’s Most Haunted Home” by a number of sources, together with LIFE Journal and The Travel Channel. It was even formally acknowledged as haunted by the US Commerce Division within the Sixties. The Whaley Home has embraced the nickname and even trademarked it for advertising functions. The Whaley Home is talked about and featured in a number of paranormal television exhibits, books, and guides.
- Photographic Proof for Ghosts on Show. It’s commonplace for cell telephones and cameras to be prohibited at some historic websites. This isn’t the case on the Whaley Home. Taking footage is inspired! A lot so that there’s a complete part on the Whaley Home for “ghost encounters” the place they share guests’ footage which will or might not function spirits, ghosts, or paranormal exercise. Should you seize one thing eerie, submit your photo or use the #whaleyhousesd hashtag on social media to share it.
- Home of Many Makes use of. Apart from being the primary house constructed formally in Southern California, the Whaley home additionally grew to become San Diego’s first business theater. It additionally served as a county courthouse and a basic retailer. The house grew to become an essential piece of the group, even inflicting division between Outdated City and New City residents within the late 1800s.
- Attributable 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 House 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 Started Earlier than the Whaleys. The haunting historical past doubtlessly started earlier than the Whaleys moved in. It’s reported {that a} man named Jim Robinson was held on the house website 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 Home
The most important cause to like the long-lasting Whaley Home is its versatile exercise choice that draws 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 choice for a daytime self-guided tour. Throughout the daytime excursions, you may go at your personal tempo and focus as a lot or as little on the haunted facet.
Moreover, the home is a well-preserved instance of mid-Nineteenth-century structure and affords a glimpse into the lives of one in every of California’s pioneer households.
Apart from its historic and paranormal attracts, we love the situation. There are lots of enjoyable issues to do in Outdated City San Diego with Whaley Home towards the highest of that listing. You’ll want to embody time to discover the eating places and buying within the space. Should you’re contemplating staying within the space, test our listing of greatest Outdated City San Diego accommodations.
