Whaley House

Thomas Whaley moved to San Diego in 1851 and established several prosperous businesses with a number of partners and his brother, Henry. He married Anna Eloise DeLaunay in May 1853. On May 6, 1856, Whaley began construction on a new home in what is now the Old Town area and proclaimed “My new house, when completed, will be the handsomest, most comfortable and convenient place in town or within 150 miles of here.” Whaley designed the two-story Greek Revival house built with bricks manufactured in his own brickyard on Conde Street. The Whaley House became the gathering place for the entire San Diego community. The house was not only the family home, it was also San Diego’s first commercial theater, the second county courthouse, and a general store. The house is open daily as a museum for daytime self-guided tours and evening guided tours.

Old Town, San Diego, San Diego County
Photographer: Andrew Schmidt