Whaley House Museum

History museum · San Diego

Whaley House Museum

History museum · San Diego

2

2476 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110

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Whaley House Museum by Michael Snell/Alamy
Whaley House Museum by Michael Snell/Alamy
Whaley House Museum by Michael Snell/Alamy
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null
Whaley House Museum by null

Highlights

Haunted historic house tours with knowledgeable guides sharing tragic tales  

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
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2476 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110 Get directions

whaleyhousesandiego.com
@whaleyhousesd

Information

Static Map

2476 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110 Get directions

+1 619 786 1143
whaleyhousesandiego.com
@whaleyhousesd

Features

wheelchair accessible parking lot
wheelchair accessible entrance
restroom

Last updated

Aug 10, 2025

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@cntraveler

The 18 Best Things to Do in San Diego, From Art Museum Visits to Scenic Hikes

"The Whaley House Museum has been called one of the most haunted houses in the United States. The two-story Greek Revival-style home was built by businessman Thomas Whaley in 1857, and the Whaleys experienced several tragedies after moving into the home, including the deaths of two of their children. The property was already rumored to be haunted before the home was built since the grounds were once an execution yard, and paranormal activity is said to occur in the house to this day. A guided evening tour is the way to go here. Being in the home after sundown adds to the spine-tingling effect, and the guides–who are dressed in Victorian-era clothing–are enthusiastic storytellers. The details they share about the neighborhood’s history, the Whaley family, and the tragedies that happened on the property makes it all engaging and brings the house to life." - Marie Tutko, Archana Ram

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-things-to-do-in-san-diego
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Whaley House Museum — Museum Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"Zoom out. What’s this place all about? The Whaley House Museum has been called one of the most haunted houses in the U.S., and has been featured on the Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures and BuzzFeed Unsolved: Supernatural. The two-story San Diego Greek Revival-style home was built by businessman Thomas Whaley in 1857, and within its walls were the county courthouse, a small theater for traveling troupes, and a general store in addition to a private residence for the Whaley family. Thomas and his wife, Anna, experienced several tragedies after moving into the home, including the deaths of two of their children. The property was already rumored to be haunted before the home was built since the grounds were once an execution yard, and paranormal activity is said to occur in the house to this day. Since the home has received extensive media coverage for its haunted reputation, it’s a popular attraction for visitors. A museum's permanent collection is its defining feature: How was this one? The home is well-preserved with furnishings, decor, artwork and kitchenware from the Victorian era, and a visit to the house is a walk back through time. Guests are able to see the parlor, dining room, kitchen, and some of the bedrooms, and get a glimpse of how a prominent family in California’s pioneer days lived. Exhibits keep us coming back. What can we expect? There are no seasonal or non-permanent exhibits at the museum–just consider that tours book quickly around Halloween. If a standard tour isn’t spooky enough for you, there is a special “after-hours paranormal investigation” experience that starts at 10:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and comes with the use of “ghost hunting equipment” such as thermal cameras and EMF meters. The tour is $99 and reservations are required. As for the museum itself, this is a good opportunity to see a residence that is more than 150 years old, which history buffs and architecture fans will appreciate. The lighting fixtures and lanterns throughout the home are dimly lit and flicker throughout the tour, adding to the mysterious ambience. Guided tours are set at a good pace, and there’s an optional Q&A session afterward on the lawn in the home’s backyard. What did you make of the crowd? Guided evening tours are limited to 20 people at a time, which feels like the right amount–some of the rooms in the home are small, and the guest limit allows for an intimate experience without feeling cramped. Children are usually not in attendance after 5 p.m., as the museum says it does not recommend the evening tour for anyone under 13 years old. The evening tours attract visitors from all over–both skeptics and haunted house enthusiasts–you’ll see a mix of families, couples, and groups of friends exploring the home. The tour has its somber moments, but it doesn’t leave you with a heavy feeling. On the practical tip, how were the facilities? Since you’re visiting a historic home, the furniture is off-limits for sitting. There are two brief times during the tour where guests are invited to sit–in the courtroom and the theater. There are no elevators onsite, and getting to the second floor involves climbing a narrow flight of stairs–people with mobility issues won’t be able to see the entire home. Any guided tours worth trying? Self-guided tours are available from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but a guided evening tour is the way to go here. Being in the home after sundown adds to the spine-tingling effect, and the guides–who are dressed in Victorian-era clothing–are enthusiastic storytellers. The details they share about the neighborhood’s history, the Whaley family, and the tragedies that happened on the property makes the brisk tour engaging and brings the house to life. Fans of the paranormal will enjoy hearing about the ghost sightings and encounters that staff and guests are said to have experienced over the years, and visitors are encouraged to submit their stories and photos on the museum’s website if they see, or capture, something unexplained during their visit. Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it? You’re required to enter the museum shop, which is next door to the Whaley House, to purchase a tour (if you didn’t book online in advance) as well as to check-in prior to your reservation. The small shop carries Whaley House-themed souvenirs, books on local history and paranormal topics, tarot cards, candles and incense. Is the café worth a stop? The museum doesn’t have an onsite restaurant, but there is a small coffee stand on the property where you can grab a latte. Since it’s in the heart of Old Town (a busy tourist district), there’s several restaurants within walking distance. We recommend Tahona Bar for mezcal flights and upscale modern Mexican dishes, and Old Town Urban Market, a new food hall that has birria tacos, mariscos (seafood), micheladas, and a wine bar. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? It takes roughly half-an-hour to experience the home on a guided tour. Even though it’s a short amount of time, the guide’s storytelling abilities and appreciation for the home’s history makes it worthwhile." - Marie Tutko

https://www.cntraveler.com/activities/san-diego/whaley-house-museum
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Amber Wierzba

Google
Great staff!! Very knowledgeable. Tour guide was really good! He made it very fun. I went at 10am on a Saturday and no wait at all. When I went up the stairs I felt off, couldn't explain it, but it bothered me quite a bit. I even went back that same day and asked how they make people feel that way and of course they said they don't but that it's a common issue. Im not really someone who is an all-out believer in ghosts, although I'm not closed off to it either. I was intrigued. So, Tuesday night, i went back for the 9pm tour. The "off" feeling was so strong from outside the house that I decided not to go inside again and not do the night tour and just left, let them keep the $$ i had paid in advance. Nope. Not for me. You couldn't have paid me to go in there. I'll never forget that weird experience!

Matthew Alexander

Google
As a local, I never do touristy things, but this was pretty interesting. Living on the water, I forgot it's nice to go inland every once in awhile to walk around with the tourists. A well rehearsed tour with some good stories. Felt slightly rushed, would have loved to linger and learn more.

Joe Hem

Google
Great tour at a really cool attraction. This house and property has a very cool history. Take the tour! Support a local monument, then grab lunch. Keep up the good work.

Levi Renninger

Google
A phenomenal show, we didn’t see any unexplained events or ghosts, but the stories from our talented and energetic guide are very believable. Having lived in San Diego for 5 years now I’m glad to have had this historic experience in the heart of bustling scene in the 1800s. We did the evening tour for a fair price, and lasted about 45 minutes. I’ll be back soon for the after hours paranormal tour!

maggie merriman

Google
The Whaley house was amazing!! I can’t complain at all about this place, her acting was great! This place had a way of making me tear up quite a bit over the stories, I went back to the hotel after leaving the Whaley house and I had felt a presence of something lightly tugging on my shirt (I had not felt threatened at all) 💖 I highly recommend checking it out! And the gift shop is absolutely great!!

Lexy

Google
It was a long time dream to get to visit this place, having been a long time fan of the paranormal I had grown up hearing stories and seeing shows with investigations of this place,not to neglect mentioning the incredibly interesting history of this house and the property before the house was built. There is so much great information throughout the house and from the tour guides. They seem to really enjoy the work they do here which is so refreshing. Its a beautiful building inside and out. I plan to come back to do one of the night time ghost hunts in the future!

Emma Lam

Google
A historic place and nice to see! Supporting history is always a memorable part but it was small and quaint. Also air conditioned! You do have to pay $10 per person for the tour and the staff was really fun to talk to. They were knowledgeable and very enthusiastic about retelling the story of how Old Town first came to be. There are tons of signage and rooms to look inside the where deep history came to be. I did make a comment that I would like to see what kind of conservation they were doing to maintain the property but I ended up talking to the staff about it. A great stop to visit.

Biw Sunisa

Google
I'm a person who's afraid of ghosts, but this place isn't as scary as I thought. But if I was left alone here, I would definitely cry 😂 There's an interesting history. The narrator is very good. I admire him 👍🏻 It took me less than 30 minutes to visit there.
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Brittany B.

Yelp
I spotted this place on google maps when looking for things to do in Old town and asked my husband if we could walk by it. I had googled some info beforehand to understand what this place was, and just wanted to see it from the outside. Once we got there, we saw that tours were provided and my husband convinced me to sign up for one. My husband and I aren't any sort of ghost thrill seeking people so we went in with no expectations. Upon entering the courthouse, it did feel a little creepy just but once you start walking around and looking at things, you get more comfortable. I would say my husband is a bit of a skeptic but he was the first to feel lightheadedness in the dining hall with all the portraits of the Whaley women. I felt nothing until I got into the room with the Whaley dress. I had looked at all the articles in the glass cases and it wasn't until my husband wanted me to stand in front of the gallows to take a picture that's when I did I started to feel lightheadedness. It lasted for 2 minutes but then began to go away. Those were our only experiences, we did not feel chills, or smell any lavender perfume or cigarettes which seem to be common here. Our guide hunny was great and informative and knew a lot of answers to the questions I asked. I kind of wish the guide went room by room and gave a little bit of history for each room just because I was so memorized by all the historical aspects but they give you a brief intro in the beginning and let you explore on your own and then meet you at the end if you have any more questions. After our tour we went to the Whaley store and the clerk told us even more stories which was fascinating! He said most commonly people experience something in the theatre room and stairs and at one point an actor dropped dead during a performance. I still have so many questions but maybe for another visit.
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Paul C.

Yelp
We did the after hours paranormal investigation. It's cool to be in the house that late and have just about 100% free reign to everything. Your guide makes it interesting as well. They cap the event to 8 guests, but really, that's too many for a true investigation. There's too much pollution with everyone walking around freely. Also, 13 and up can come, which during our tour was way too young for them to take it remotely seriously. If you're going to have that many people, maybe instead of free reign, each group gets a certain amount of time in each room. You can separate people and lessen the contamination. Overall it was cool, but there needs to be less people or a little more control over us beginner s.
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Joseph S.

Yelp
2/9/2024 - Let's start by saying our tour guide Julie was great! Be brave everyone haha! So I came here for a birthday weekend activity and let's just say I was not expecting to feel what I did and it didn't help when everything that happen was followed up during the tour with a background story which made things even more interesting. ha Room 1 - So when we walked in and the tour began, I heard a small child laugh from behind me and I didn't think anything of it since originally, I knew it could of been maybe someone outside. I even turned around since I was in the back seating area alone to see but nothing was there. Room 2 - When we entered the second room, I had a sudden pain on the back of my neck / shoulders area and started to feel like I needed to stretch a bit just something was weighing heavy on me, when entering the next room that went away and is where I found out about the small children that like to play in the house.. Revert back to room one... ha Room 3 - I was the first to enter this room and I was automatically drawn to look out the kitchen window. Not really knowing why until the tour guide explained a little later.. Upstairs - Kids and Parents rooms - So making my way upstairs I automatically wanted to see the kids room because I myself have kids and thought it would be interesting to see how it looked, but something told me no go to the parents room and yet again stair out the same house side window looking to the back yard.. Not knowing why I couldn't stop staring out it I skipped the kids room.. Not sure why I no longer wanted to stop for it and entered the theater.. Theater - Once in there I turned to my fiance and explained that I felt just down and sad.. Like almost as if I wanted to cry but was like that is so random... Then the great tour guide explained what truly happen outisde those windows and how one member used to stare out the window and feel depressed.. Once we started to head back downstairs we were asked to make our way to the living room area where once again my back and neck began feeling in pain again and something told me to lean on the arch of the room... I tried hard not to because I was like don't lean on the museum but come to find out there was in fact a reason and I was once again drawn to it... Look, I am a believer and very open to many things, but did not expect to feel the things I did. If anything I was just open to understand and know the rich history of the location. Thank you Julie and you as well Whaley House.
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May A.

Yelp
Whaley House Day Tour [San Diego CA] Unfortunately, the Evening Guided Tour was fully booked so we opted for the Self-Guided DAY Tour which was Rated PG LoL (reservations were not required). We could take the tour anytime between 10:00a to 4:30p. Before we were let loose inside the house we were given a brief 10-min introduction to the Whaley House and shared some stories and paranormal occurrences. The Whaley House is supposedly America's most haunted house and has been featured in SyFy Channel, Discovery Channel and Ghost Adventures. Well, it was pretty hard to feel or see anything in the daytime along with some 15 other people taking the tour with us. I did take some notes from what Annabelle (cast member) shared with us: The two-story Greek Revival house was the primary residence of Thomas Whaley and his family. At some point it became San Diego's first commercial theatre, it was also once a county courthouse, and a general store. The museum housed personal belongings from the life of the Whaley Family. Artifacts excavated from the backyard were also on display. As it was explained to us they didn't have a garbage disposal system back in the day so they just buried their trash in the backyard (like a landfill). The property was the site of one of the town's most famous public executions - the hanging of the infamous thief Yankee Jim Robinson. Our SLS detected some anomalies in parts of the house. First death was their young son, Thomas, who was only 18 months old, and died of scarlet fever inside the house. Other family members who lived and died in the house included husband and wife, Thomas and Anna, and their children Lillian, Thomas, Violet (commute suicide) and Francis. That's all I can remember... you would have to tour the house yourself if you want to feel the "presence." It's easier to dismiss ghosts in the daytime... Review #3214
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Jessica G.

Yelp
Went here years ago for Halloween it's a really awesome tour. I would highly recommend going. I found some old pictures too to add. I loved coming here it was fun learning about the history of the museum and walking through at night during Halloween made it even spookier. Have a really beautiful day. Be kind to everyone no matter what!!
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Christine L.

Yelp
Poor customer service. They told us we could do a tour as long as we were back by 9pm and we arrived back a few minutes before 9 and they decided that they didn't want to do the tour and told us to come back tomorrow even though we explained we were in town only tonight and that they said to come back. Before 9 which we did. Very frustrated. Just wanted to spend the evening on a ghost tour. I had explained when we came by the first time that we'd had a really rough time finding a ghost tour tonight and so it felt like salt in a wound to have them tell us to come back and then refuse to do the tour because of what appeared like they decided they wanted to go home early.
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Jessica R.

Yelp
My family had a lovely experience here. My 8 year old boys were fascinated by all the old appliances. Of course the piano was the real show stopper. Thanks for keeping all of this alive. :)

Mikey C.

Yelp
My mom flew in from Florida and REALLY wanted to check this place out. She booked a reservation for the nighttime tour and it turned out to be the most fun part of the vacation! Our guide, Paul was incredible! Extremely polite and informative. Couldn't have asked for a better guide. Would recommend this tour to anyone who hasn't gone yet!!
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Stephanie R.

Yelp
Fun and informative visit. Ghoulie Julie was a great guide and so fun !!!!! Glad for the hand fans cause it's stuffy in the house.
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Marsha G.

Yelp
Fun experience to do if you are in Old Town San Diego. Staff is super fun and friendly. They also know so much about the property and the family. It's not a very long tour and it is self guided. Once you are told the history of the house and the property you go off on your own to explore. And if you have any questions the staff are there to eagerly answer. Thanks!
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Mark C.

Yelp
Listen closely, mortals, as I, Captain 619, recount me eerie encounter at the infamous Whaley House in San Diego's Old Town. This be the most haunted house in all of the USA, a place where spirits roam and darkness lurks. Me own daughter, once a brave docent, has been forever spooked by the supernatural occurrences within these haunted walls. If ye be seeking an experience that'll send shivers down yer spine, especially in the days leading up to Halloween, or any time ye crave the sensation of hair standing on end, then ye need not search further than this haunted abode. As I stepped foot inside, a chill ran through me veins, and the air grew heavy with an otherworldly presence. The creaking floorboards and flickering lights set the stage for a bone-chilling experience. The whispers of ghostly apparitions echoed in me ears, and the shadows danced with a malevolent glee. It be a place where the line between the living and the dead blurs, and the supernatural realm intertwines with our own. Whether ye be a skeptic or a believer, the Whaley House will leave an indelible mark on yer soul. The history and tales of tragedy that surround this haunted dwelling are enough to make even the bravest tremble. So, if ye dare to venture into the realm of the paranormal, make thy way to the Whaley House. But be warned, for once ye enter, there be no turning back.
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Candy S.

Yelp
Fabulous experience and learn about history in a fun spooky way! We came here on a date night, and it is definitely family with older kids recommended. The elders might not do so well because there are climbing stairs up and down. Purchase tickets in the next building over, the yellow house with the red roof. Parking is wherever you park in old town. Great tour guides Our guide this evening was Ghoulie Julie! She was extremely theatrical and super into the history heart of the Whaley House. Which made the tour really fun, suspenseful, and learned about history. A+++ Ghoulie Julie! The story and history itself are just truly amazing to hear and learn about with such wonderful enthusiasm. Some parts are extremely sad and heart-wrenching but still make you feel appreciative for the things we have today. Julie, again, you nailed it! Lots of interaction, too. No touching the artifacts. However, you can take video, pictures, no flash, and see if you can see anything from the pictures. I did personally experience something, and it was subtle, but as soon as our guide was talking about it...definitely gave me a thrill. Old Town is full of spirits, history, and the heartbeat of San Diego. Great of you are visiting. It's great if you are local and just fun to have a date night. They have other night guided tours that we will be checking out into our next date night. Thank you again for such a wonderful experience and to all the creepy creative ghoulish tour guides. Have fun, and remember, mind your manners with the spirits. Enjoy, happy hunting
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Salim K.

Yelp
Spooky in a fun way with lots of history and facts sprinkled all over the house. Happened to be walking amidst old town when we came across Whaley House and immediately bought our tickets for the next tour. Parking can get a bit tricky though there seemed to be a couple of parking lots around in old town that could be made use of. The tour starts with a description and history of the house, how Mr Whaley made his way to San Diego, his prudent thinking and he wanted to shape what parts of San Diego would turn out to be. We started moving around the perimeter of the house and eventually got to the entrance. The tour guides along with her colleagues would still be available throughout the house in case the visitors had questions and did a great job in explaining and answering questions very patiently. In case spooky and horror go well with you this is definitely a must do!!
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Joel C.

Yelp
From my many travels to other states that have been the area of the Utah and the Oregon State along with the many areas of the Idaho and the Washington State you see so many historical places that have such history from the first Wagon Trains arrive here in San Diego and the Historical pioneer towns that lived on only what was there. To see a place that has so many traits with the feel of the times when it was first built and the many events that the First Court House had went through. The many tourists that have visited the Whaley House haver had the many experiences of the many things that have gone in the house you have to remember the Whaley House was the First Court House and the times were changing with the likes of the cowboys that had roamed the country and the many cities in between. Traveling on the Blue Line Trolley to the state park to see the Spanish Festival yet the park was very low in attendance when I had arrived it gave me a chance to get a look at the many things working my way over to the Whaley House. Walking through the State Park you get more towards the back side with other restaurants and the bars you can choose from other restaurants have left the Taylor Street area. When you go to the Whaley House Museum the walk through the street it gives you the feel that you have walked back in time. I looked and saw the many people that were going where the tour guides taking people in seeing the many first timers their cameras taking pictures there are many things that can catch your eyes at the Whaley House. With the main ticket retail store that is located near by the house where you can buy books and the many items of and about the house from the history and the sweaters you can buy, and they do have shirts. When you arrive at the front door to the Museum the tour guide takes you towards the back of the house tour guide gives the inner story and the many things which happened outside with the family with the hanging of Yankie Jim the Indian. To be in the house you can just feel the many things of the house of the family and the judge that oversaw the many cases that took place at the Courthouse. The many ghostly stories and the spiritual happening the ghostly touch of the residents that were there for many others the site of the spirits which can be seen on certain nights. As a Yelp Elite Reviewer, The Whaley House Museum is one place when you come to the front door walking through the feel of time has gone backwards to the era of the cowboy the days of the horse and buggy the town you can see the saloon you walk about the Whaley House as the history unfolds before your eyes as you take the tour.
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Jenny M.

Yelp
Booked the evening tour. It was fun and cool to know the history. Based on my friend that did the tour for the second time they have more insights the last time they went. Also we found out that they tour rooms in the morning that not available in the evening tour and if it's not crowded. Still fun but hoping that could've seen the other rooms.
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Alycia A.

Yelp
We did the night tour! We loved it! Lots of history, our tour guide made it so fun! Make sure your are on time as the tour will start without you. We parked in the large parking lot- arrive early because sometimes parking can be hard to find. The tour wasn't too spooky, we definitely enjoyed learning all about the Whaley family. I love their gift store. I came home with lots of treasures!
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Diane R.

Yelp
My friends and I are super into the paranormal and history. We decided last minute to check this place out when we were visiting San Diego. Who doesn't love a haunted house tour? It was super fun. There is a lot of history in the area in general and the house is like stepping back in time. We had a great tour guide (I believe his name was Hunny) who was very friendly and funny. He told the story of the Whaley family very well and was quite entertaining. It's a fairly quick tour so it doesn't take a large chunk of time out of your day which is super nice and convenient if you want to do a lot of things in one day. We didn't get any "vibes" from any paranormal like activity but it was still a fun little tour. Would totally recommend to anyone into "ghost stories" or just local history.
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Danielle A.

Yelp
We stumbled upon this place when we were in San Diego and loved it. Such a nice experience. Our tour guide was so so nice and super informative. All the staff was so friendly. Thanks for a great time! I would definitely suggest coming here. So worth it
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Heavyn K.

Yelp
Great History, Pretty far fetch to say "most haunted " it was a great history lesson though! The tour was very independent who h was awesome & the tour guides were amazing at explaining/answering questions. They also allowed my esa dog chanel (: that was awesome. Things Looked staged in my opinion. My bestie said she felt a presence of rage in mr whaleys room.
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Michelle S.

Yelp
GIVE HUNNY A RAISE!! We went on Memorial Day weekend and our group had a bunch of drunk people yappin while Hunny was trying to do our tour. My 15 year old couldn't believe how rude these people were. We felt bad but im sure the tour guides are sadly used to it. This is our first time back since before 2020. Lots of little changes and I swear our last tour was much longer and time to walk around the house after. But every time we are in San Diego for my sons travel hockey, we try to stop by the Whaley house!
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Craig W.

Yelp
This is, apparently, "America's Most Haunted House." That is a mighty bold claim. What you need to know: The nighttime tour is guided and the daytime tour is not. Based on the reviews, the nighttime tour seems to be much more popular, and is likely a thousand times scarier, than the daytime tour. We did the self-guided daytime tour. It is not scary. It is an interesting old house with some interesting history. I wouldn't dissuade anyone from taking either tour but if you are interested in being scared (which kind of seems like the whole point of "America's Most Haunted House"), I would definitely do the nighttime tour. Even though the daytime tour is self-guided, you do get a 5-10 minute speech at the start which was informative and entertaining. I'd say the self-guided daytime tour will take you around 15-20 minutes. Parking is free all over Old Town but it can get pretty tight as the day goes on. If you come early, there are a lot of free lots and street parking.
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Cindy W.

Yelp
Yes I've been here, it's interesting to the history of the SD area. I loved how preserved it is, and I tried to feel it out if I thought it felt haunted? Possibly? I'm looking through my photos for any orbs! In any case SD has a sorted history and is totally worth the visit for history and paranormal buffs!
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Gabriela V.

Yelp
My visit to the Whaley House was a delightful blend of history and the paranormal. The low cost made it accessible, and while I didn't experience any ghostly encounters, the rich history of America's most haunted house was fascinating. The ambiance was both eerie and intriguing, creating an unforgettable experience. A must-visit for history buffs and those seeking a touch of the supernatural without breaking the bank.

Christina M.

Yelp
Really awesome and sad from the stories. Staff was great. Loved it!!!! The Knick knacks found in the dirt was interesting to look at.
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Anyssa R.

Yelp
Love love love this place My tour guide Hunny was amazing. Great actor. Recommend him Alot. I took a day tour but soon. I want to come for the after dark hour one I unfortunately didn't see anything out of the ordinary But I did feel chills and sense things happening.
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Laura J.

Yelp
** They price gouge!! We went at around 5pm for their 5:20pm show and it ended up being $23, but their 6pm show was $18, and it looks like you can also purchase tickets online for $14. I would highly purchasing tickets online or coming in early to buy them! It felt a little disingenuous, at least to me that they would purposely put flickering lights on to purposely evoke a creepy atmosphere. Is this house really haunted? I'm not sure. I did feel a little tug on my pants, but that could also be because I wanted something to happen like the placebo effect. Is it worth it? Not for $23. Would I come back? Not for the tour but maybe for their ghost hunting. But we had a great tour guide, Shep. He was super knowledgeable about the history, people, and events that took place in the house. Also super passionate when he talks about the people of the house, definitely part of the reason why this tour was still pretty fun and engaging.
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Nila M.

Yelp
I went last night because "America's most haunted house sounded appealing to try. I wanted to see if anything paranormal would happen but as expected nothing happened. But I still enjoyed learning about the history to this place and the tour guide was awesome. The house does look spooky if anything. It was still really fun and I recommend trying it out:)
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Tiffany W.

Yelp
Touring this has been on my bucket list for awhile now, and we were able to hop right into a daytime tour on a Sunday afternoon with only a five minute wait. This place seems small on the outside and absolutely enormous on the inside: how do they fit a huge courtroom, a theater that once held 150 people, plus a normal house into this place??? Even my hubby was pleasantly surprised by how much "bang for our buck" we got on this spontaneous tour. We loved our tour guide, Clementine, who appears to give *all* the daytime tours, at least it seems, if you read all the reviews here. The tour didn't feel "ghostly" at all, but incredibly informative, and we got to leisurely explore it on our own after Clementine's introduction. I thought it was a great value and tons of fun.
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Vanessa W.

Yelp
Such a fun place to visit. We have done the daytime tour and the nighttime and highly recommend the night tour! Our tour guide Oakley was fantastic and made the night so fun. Parking can be tricky but plan to make a night out of it and explore Old Town San Diego and all their shops and great Mexican food.
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Daniella C.

Yelp
I've been intrigued by the Whaley House since my elementary school field trip days when we went to Old Town for a week to learn about the history of San Diego. Fast forward 20 years later, I moved away but still come home to visit when I'm feeling homesick. Now as an adult, I brought my fiancé & kids w/ me to re-visit Old Town & check out the Whaley House! We did the daytime tour & our tour guide/host, Mrs Sullivan was the best! She was funny, informative & gave us the best experience. We got to learn about how the house stood on old San Diego gallows grounds - & check out the built in courtroom, kitchen/servants living quarters, downstairs & upstairs areas & it was all so fascinating! There were a few spooky moments, but I won't spill it all. For a family of 4, we paid $56 & it was well worth the money. This is a must if you're local & never been or if you're visiting & want to check out America's most haunted house!
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Edryl L.

Yelp
I went here for the night time tour. This was my first time going to the Whaley House and apparently they have different types of tours. The night time tour is guided, the morning one is not and you go at your own pace. There is also a paranormal event that you can book. Our guide told us that it's a bit pricey but you have access to a variety of ghost hunting equipment! It may be worth checking out for some. The Whaley House has been a place I've been wanting to visit for awhile especially given it's reputation. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and even provided a few jump scares throughout the tour! I wish we had more time to walk around and really soak up the place. At times I felt a bit rushed. Definitely ask the workers about their experiences with the Whaley House. They have some pretty eerie ones! If you haven't visited the Whaley House then I highly recommend it especially learning about the history. It's truly a "boo-tiful" house. Who knows, maybe you'll get something special from the experience that will last a lifetime and maybe beyond ;)...
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Tia R.

Yelp
Wow, what a place. We came for the 6pm on 12/27. This place was amazing. First off, our tour guide Clementine, she was amazing. She was hilarious, extremely knowledgeable, and she was amazing at explaining the history of the house. The house was creepy especially because of all the furniture and the history, which is super interesting. I am definitely returning for the paranormal investigation (which is from 10:30pm-1:30am!). Overall amazing experience in a super creepy house and Clementine was the funniest and best tour guide I've ever had! Highly recommend!
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Alina S.

Yelp
Beautiful historic site but I did not think the price of admission was worth it for the time you spend touring and site seeing the mansion. $20 for adults and $10 for kids.

Alisha M.

Yelp
I have loved the Whaley House for many many years. The history of the home, the stories of the family, the energy it gives off, the surrounding gardens...all of it. I have seen the home go through many interior/room changes and no matter the set up, it is always a special place and a memorable experience.
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Bryan F.

Yelp
I've been to the Whaley House many times over the last 20 years but the tour I took about a month ago was by far their best incarnation. The current ownership and management really have things dialed in. I was even impressed at the gift shop which ended up having a few things I wanted bad enough to pick up. I don't think I'd ever felt that way about their gift shop before. The tour is more of a show, a very comprehensive show that uses the exterior as well as the interior. I was very impressed.
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Carolynn Q.

Yelp
I typically like museum tours so the fact they have one for this house, I really looked forward to it and it didn't disappoint! We had a great tour guide named Oakley and although we knew she had a script, she showed personality and I actually like to get to know my tour guides so that was great. My boyfriend and I had plenty of questions, as all tourists do, and she was very welcoming and made us comfortable to ask them.
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Jim V.

Yelp
I was completely underwhelmed by this place. They stories told by 2 different museum attendants lacked flare or pizzaz. No story was gripping or compelling. It's not a scary place but it is a part of the old town history. It takes about 20 minutes to see and that's with 2 sit downs, one in the courthouse and the other in the upstairs theater. If you are really into this type of attraction it may be for you, but it's certainly nothing like The Winchester House in San Jose. At $14 a ticket I would for sure skip it next time.
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Natalie B.

Yelp
Such a cool tour. It was interesting to hear the stories of the Whaley house and our tour guide Bullet was hilarious. He kept the tour fun.
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Janelle F.

Yelp
Unsure how I missed my check in here, but while double checking that I finished my other reviews I caught it. The Whaley House is a staple in San Diego especially if you love all things old and haunted. The tour is great and allows to to really go through and see what the house looks like. For most of the tour I didn't feel much besides in awe of all the cool items collected inside, but towards the end I had a vibe that gave me a bit of the chills and the chandelier was moving with no breeze or anyone upstairs above us. Either you're a believer or your not. Still a cool experience.
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Jeff H.

Yelp
This is one of my favorite places to visit! Are used to work here back in 2003 2006 as a side job while I was active duty in the US Navy. The museum is currently changed a lot, but offers a more intimate experience with the Whaleys and all the historical importance of the old Whaley house.
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Karla P.

Yelp
This was spontaneous and fun. We were in San Diego and decided to do this spare of the moment. We did the night tour. Chloe was our guide, and she was funny, charming, and even scared some of us once or twice. This your is well worth the price. I do recommend going at night. The surrounding area is old Town SD and it is a great area to eat and walk around.
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Jonas B.

Yelp
I had an amazing time at the Whaley House. My tour guide Ghoulie Julie did a phenomenal job! I felt nauseous and uneasy, not because of scary spirits, but it was like when you are so sad you feel a pit in your stomach. I think that was Violet trying to show me how she felt. I feel the weirdest draw to go back and talk to her! So interesting. Thanks again Julie! (And Mrs. Whaley)
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Maria M.

Yelp
Hannah Sullivan made the tour so much fun! We came on a whim on the night of my mom's 70th birthday and it so so much fun. Hannah really presented the tour in an entertaining and informative way. There was a group of intoxicated people and she handled them so well without interrupting the tour for the rest of the group. It was very impressive. I would love to come back with my family and take the tour with her again. She really brought the Whaley house to life, and made it an experience we will come back for!
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Rexie S.

Yelp
Learned a little history of San Diego. Wasn't as haunted as I thought ( maybe I was a little drunk). The tour guide was entertaining and a good story teller. The rooms were smaller than expected. So cool if you're into history.
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Teacher T.

Yelp
"Whaley House Ghost Tour" Old San Diego History interesting, sad stories abound. Recommend event.
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Sam D.

Yelp
I visited before lunchtime, so the place wasn't crowded, and it took about half an hour to explore. While it wasn't a guided tour, an incredible individual named Shep provided valuable insights into the history of the house. Shep was readily available to answer any questions about the house's history. My purpose for the visit was to encounter some spirit activity, and I was not disappointed--I had several experiences while exploring. I would wholeheartedly recommend paying a visit.
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Paul C.

Yelp
Went here for my 58th Birthday evening. Wasn't sure what to expect, but it was a great History story telling time and Clementine knocked it out of the park. She was a real pro and made it fun. I'm not sure how haunted the house is, but it's got a great story.

Kevin C.

Yelp
Super fun experience very good thing to do if you're looking for something to experience. Wish the tour was just a little longer though!
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JoAnn Y.

Yelp
We went on the evening tour and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our guide was informative, humorous, and just a little bit scary. Our decision to go was very last minute and prompted by a happenstance walk into the gift shop and bumping into the man who would be our tour guide. Entertaining and good fun.
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Julie B.

Yelp
Decided to be adventurous with my friend so we did the tour. It was $14 each. In the beginning, we entered the house and the tour guide just gave us a brief explanation (5mins) about the history of the Whaley house and then everyone was off to roam the house on their own. There wasn't much stories or anything that explained what happened at the house . Didn't see anything creepy or paranormal. It was 2 stories, you can probably look at everything in 15min or less. Lol we thought it was a waste of money. I'm hearing the night tour has a different experience but I would skip out on this.