An icon in Outdated City San Diego and nationwide for ghost hunters, the Whaley Home Museum is a well-liked addition to many San Diego itineraries.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 in-built 1857 by Thomas Whaley, and it was the location of a number of tragedies which have led to its haunted status.
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 generally known as the best home in Southern California, constructed with bricks made on the Whaley property. Whaley Home hosted San Diego’s first industrial 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 ground. Her ghost can also be mentioned to roam the premises nonetheless.
Nevertheless, 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 exhausting to revive many points 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 Home.
- Vigorous 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 equipped with ghost searching and monitoring tools.
- Wonderful Location for Purchasing and Consuming: Outdated City is a well-liked vacation spot for vacationers and locals. Peek inside artisan retailers, get pleasure from world-class meals, and expertise stay music and a vigorous vibe, all inside strolling distance of the Whaley Home.
- Historic Significance: The Whaley household is commonly 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, try important particulars like hours, ticket costs, close by meals, reward retailers, and parking.
Tickets and Hours
The Whaley Home is open each day. Reservations will not be required for daytime excursions however may be useful throughout summer season months or weekends.
Guests can select from three ticket options. 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 coated by the Go San Diego All-Inclusive and Explorer sightseeing passes that embrace numerous different San Diego points of interest resembling San Diego Zoo, USS Halfway Museum, and the Outdated City Trolley, which may also help you get to The Whaley Museum from stops across the County.
PLEASE NOTE: Go San Diego passes will not be 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 fine eats inside strolling distance of the Whaley Home.
Proper behind Whaley Home although is the New Orleans Creole Cafe, housed in a late Nineties constructing. You can too try 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 superb reward store onsite referred to as the Whaley Home Museum Store. Past carrying your typical souvenirs resembling t-shirts, mugs, and magnets, this reward store additionally carries an assortment of Mexicana-themed gadgets resembling sugar skulls and Dia De Los Muertos presents.
The store additionally carries quite a lot of paranormal-themed presents, resembling books and ghost-hunting kits.
Parking
Free parking is positioned simply north of the Whaley Home off Harney avenue. The car parking zone is understood to replenish rapidly, so come early and with loads of time earlier than your tour begins to safe a spot.
There are additionally different small parking heaps positioned all through the Outdated City San Diego in addition to avenue parking.
High 5 Distinctive Information Concerning the Whaley Home
Uncover extra concerning the legendary Whaley Home with these fascinating info about this in style 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 reveals, 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 photos is inspired! A lot so that there’s a whole part on the Whaley Home for “ghost encounters” the place they share guests’ photos which will or could not function spirits, ghosts, or paranormal exercise. For those who seize one thing eerie, submit your photo or use the #whaleyhousesd hashtag on social media to share it.
- Home of Many Makes use of. Moreover being the primary house constructed formally in Southern California, the Whaley home additionally grew to become San Diego’s first industrial theater. It additionally served as a county courthouse and a basic retailer. The house grew to become an necessary piece of the group, even inflicting division between Outdated City and New City residents within the late 1800s.
- Resulting from 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 Dwelling 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 probably 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 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 enduring 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 generally is a enjoyable and lighthearted choice for a daytime self-guided tour. Through the daytime excursions, you’ll be able to 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 provides a glimpse into the lives of one among California’s pioneer households.
Moreover its historic and paranormal attracts, we love the situation. There are numerous enjoyable issues to do in Outdated City San Diego with Whaley Home towards the highest of that record. Make sure you embrace time to discover the eating places and buying within the space. For those who’re contemplating staying within the space, verify our record of greatest Outdated City San Diego accommodations.
