Heritage Park, Victorian architecture park near Old Town, San Diego, United States.
Heritage Park is a San Diego County park of almost eight acres near Old Town that holds seven Victorian houses and the first sanctuary of Congregation Beth Israel, all moved from their original sites. The buildings represent Italianate, Stick-Eastlake, Queen Anne and Classic Revival styles; the 1889 synagogue is Classic Revival.
The park was created to preserve San Diego's Victorian architecture, with buildings relocated from their original sites by San Diego County and the Save Our Heritage Organisation. The Sherman-Gilbert House, a Stick-Eastlake home built in 1887, was the first house that organisation restored and moved. Temple Beth Israel, completed in 1889 at 2nd and Beech Streets, was the first sanctuary of Congregation Beth Israel and served several religious sects before its relocation.
The Sherman-Gilbert House, built in 1887 by architects Nelson Comstock and Carl Trotsche for John Sherman, a cousin of General William Tecumseh Sherman, hosted receptions attended by international performers. Anna Pavlova danced in its music room and Artur Rubinstein played piano there. It was the first house Save Our Heritage Organisation restored and relocated to Heritage Park.
The eight-acre grounds sit beside Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, and all buildings were moved here, so paths link them in a cluster rather than a street grid. Senlis Cottage and Temple Beth Israel are open for viewing; the synagogue holds two playable reed organs, an Estey and a Western Cottage, in its choir loft.
Temple Beth Israel, completed in 1889 at 2nd and Beech Streets downtown, was the first sanctuary of Congregation Beth Israel and was used by several religious sects before being moved to the park. Its choir loft holds two playable reed pump organs, an Estey and a Western Cottage.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,633 contributors worldwide.