Whaley House, Greek Revival house museum in Old Town San Diego, United States.
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 designed the two-story Greek Revival house himself, and construction began on May 6, 1856; it was completed in 1857 at a cost of more than $10,000, using bricks from his own brickyard on Conde Street. In October 1868 an upstairs bedroom became a theater for the Tanner Troupe, seating 150 guests, and in 1869 San Diego leased the courtroom and three upstairs bedrooms for $65 a month. The house opened as a museum on May 25, 1960.
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 stands in Old Town San Diego, with its entrance sign reading "Whaley House" and "MUSEUM" facing the street. A live-in caretaker has occupied the property since 2007 to guard against theft and vandalism. Some interior sections are closed off to visitors, so expect to see only part of the rooms.
In October 1868 Thomas Whaley rented an upstairs bedroom to the Tanner Troupe, a travelling theatre company; the small room held a stage, a few benches and about 150 guests for the opening night. It was the first commercial theater in San Diego.
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