Timken House

The Timken House is a Victorian residence on First Avenue that combines Queen Anne style with Georgian influences throughout its design. Its exterior displays characteristic spindles, decorative brackets, and ornamental chimneys that define its architectural character.

The house was built in 1888 by architects Comstock and Trotsche as a residence for inventor Henry Timken, who lived there until 1909. The property then passed through different owners but retained its original architectural integrity through the decades.

The house reflects the prosperity of a family that invested in San Diego's growth and left a lasting mark on its cultural institutions. Visitors walking past can sense how private wealth and civic vision intertwined in shaping the city's identity.

The house remains a private residence and is not open to the public, but you can see its architectural features clearly from the public sidewalk along First Avenue. Daytime visits offer the best lighting for observing the decorative details on the exterior.

The house occupies Timken Corner and preserved its original Victorian design while many similar structures from that era underwent substantial modern renovations. This makes it one of the few unaltered examples of that period's architecture in the area.

GPS coordinates: 32.73160,-117.16400

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:00