Whaley House

The Whaley House is a brick building in the Greek Revival style in Old Town San Diego that displays 19th-century furniture and fixtures. The two floors contain living quarters, a shop, a theater hall, and a courtroom.

Thomas Whaley began construction in 1857 and opened Southern California's first brick house. The city of San Diego later used the hall as a courtroom and theater space until the end of the 19th century.

The Whaley name recalls the family who ran a shop here and rented the space as a theater and courtroom. Visitors today still see the original rooms where merchants and officials worked.

The house opens daily from 10 in the morning, and the entrance is on San Diego Avenue in Old Town. The tour leads through the ground floor and upstairs rooms, with wheelchair access limited to the ground floor.

A San Diego court held an actual session in the old courtroom in May 2022, linking modern law to the 19th-century rooms. Visitors can see the judge's seat and benches that served then and now for hearings.

Location: California

Inception: 1857

Architectural style: Greek Revival architecture

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

Fee: Yes

Address: San Diego Avenue

Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 10:00-16:30

Website: http://whaleyhouse.org

GPS coordinates: 32.75280,-117.19400

Latest update: December 12, 2025 18:02