Located in historic Old Town, the Whaley House stands today as a classic example of mid-nineteenth century Greek Revival architecture. Formally dedicated as a historic house museum on May 25, 1960 and open to the public ever since, it is one of southern California's most popular visitor destinations. Over 100,000 people visit the Whaley House annually.

The building was started with the construction of a granary that later became the courtroom. The two-story house and store addition was designed by Thomas Whaley and constructed in 1857. It was the first two-story brick edifice in San Diego, and was built from bricks made in Thomas Whaley's own brickyard.

The house is now in the process of a major restoration. The interpretive period is from 1856 when construction began on the house to 1885 when Thomas Whaley moved his family to a new home in New Town, San Diego. The primary focus is on 1868 to 1871, when the Whaley House was not only the Whaley family residence, but also San Diego's first commercial theater, the county courthouse, and the Whaley and Crosthwaite General Store, all of which have been restored to the museum.

The Whaley House Complex consists of the Whaley House Museum, the historic Verna House, which houses the SOHO Museum Shop, two false front store buildings (which house the New Orleans Creole Café, offering indoor and outdoor patio dining), a replica nineteenth-century rustic gazebo seating area, and the historic Derby-Pendleton House (which is not open to the public).

Official Web Site

If you are trying to find Whaley House Museum, you have come to the right place. Our map is interactive, includes the streets/major attractions in the immediate area, and can be easily zoomed, reformatted or repositioned to meet your needs. If you see a map that is in error, please email us at maps@mustseesandiego.com.

Map of Whaley House Museum Location