Whaley House (San Diego, California) facts for kids
Whaley House, 2010
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| Established | Original construction: 1857 Current museum: May 25, 1960 |
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| Location | 2476 San Diego Avenue San Diego, California |
| Reference #: | 65 |
| Reference #: | 24 |
The Whaley House is a historic home and museum in the Old Town, San Diego, California neighborhood. Built in 1857, it is the oldest brick building in Southern California. Today, it is a California Historical Landmark and a popular museum.
The house was once the home of Thomas Whaley and his family. But it was more than just a house. It also served as a general store, San Diego's second county courthouse, and the city's first commercial theater. The building has seen more of San Diego's history than any other in the city.
Contents
The Whaley Family
A New Home in San Diego
Thomas Whaley was a businessman from New York City. He moved to California in 1849 during the California Gold Rush. After finding success in San Francisco, he came to San Diego in 1851.
He returned to New York to marry Anna Eloise Delaunay in 1853. They moved to San Diego together and, in 1857, they settled into their brand-new brick home, now known as the Whaley House.
Thomas and Anna had six children: Francis, Thomas Jr., Anna Amelia, George, Violet, and Corinne Lillian. Sadly, their son Thomas Jr. died from scarlet fever when he was only 18 months old.
A Family's Sad Story
After the death of their baby and a fire at their store, the family moved to San Francisco for a while. They returned to the Whaley House in 1868.
More sadness followed the family. In 1882, two of the daughters, Violet and Anna Amelia, got married at the house. But Violet's marriage was very unhappy. Just a few years later, in 1885, a heartbroken Violet died tragically at the age of 22. She left behind a sad note with a line from a poem called 'The Bridge of Sighs' by Thomas Hood.
Because of these sad events, Thomas Whaley built a new home for his family in downtown San Diego. The original Whaley House was left empty for more than 20 years.
The House Becomes a Museum
Thomas Whaley passed away in 1890. Over the years, the rest of the family members also passed away. The last Whaley to live in the house was Corinne Lillian, who died in 1953.
In 1909, their son Francis Whaley decided to fix up the old, empty house. He turned it into a tourist attraction, telling visitors about its amazing history.
After the last Whaley family member passed away, the house was officially opened as a museum on May 25, 1960. It is now cared for by the Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO).
History of the Whaley House
The Finest House in Town
Thomas Whaley designed the beautiful two-story house himself. It was built with bricks from his own brickyard. When it was finished in 1857, it cost over $10,000, which was a lot of money back then.
The house was filled with fancy furniture, carpets, and curtains. At the time, it was considered a mansion and became a popular place for people in San Diego to gather. Thomas Whaley once said his house would be "the handsomest, most comfortable and convenient place in town or within 150 miles of here."
More Than Just a Home
The Whaley House was a busy place. It served as the family home, but it also had other important jobs.
- A General Store: The family ran a store called the Whaley & Crosthwaite General Store.
- A Theater: In 1868, an upstairs room was turned into San Diego's first commercial theater. The Tanner Troupe, a group of actors, put on shows there.
- A Courthouse: In 1869, the County of San Diego rented part of the house to use as a courthouse and for offices.
Old Town vs. New Town
In the 1870s, a big argument started in San Diego. Some people wanted the city's center to be in "Old Town," where the Whaley House was. Others wanted it to be in "New Town," which is now downtown.
The county government was renting the courthouse in the Whaley House. But people in New Town wanted the county offices and records moved there. This disagreement became a major issue in local politics. Finally, in 1871, the county records were moved to New Town, shifting the city's focus away from Old Town.
Is the Whaley House Haunted?
The Whaley House is famous for being one of the most haunted houses in America. The stories began soon after the Whaley family moved in. They told a local newspaper that they heard heavy footsteps in the house. They believed it was the ghost of a man named James "Yankee Jim" Robinson, who had been killed on the property before the house was built.
Over the years, many visitors and staff members have reported strange experiences. Some say they have seen ghosts that look like members of the Whaley family, heard unexplained noises, or felt cold spots in the rooms.
The House in Movies and TV
Because of its spooky reputation, the Whaley House has been featured on many TV shows about history and paranormal events.
- It was on Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files and America's Most Haunted, which called it the most haunted home in the U.S.
- In 2012, TV host Regis Philbin visited for his show The Haunting of Regis Philbin. He said he had a strange encounter there years earlier.
- The house was investigated on the popular show Ghost Adventures.
- It was also featured on BuzzFeed Unsolved: Supernatural, and the hosts later returned to investigate again for their new show, Ghost Files.
See also
- Reportedly haunted locations in California
