America’s most haunted house
Few structures in San Diego are as historically important as the stately brick Whaley House, which has functioned as a granary, the county’s courthouse, the region’s first commercial theater and various businesses including a general store, ballroom, billiard hall, school and polling place since 1857. (Read the entire article on page 73 of this year’s Urban Guide.)
The historic Whaley House has some “spirited” fun in store for visitors this Halloween season, including extended hours, period lighting & music, exclusive guided tours, Past & Presence Ghost Tours and after-hours ghost hunts.
Built as his family’s home by San Diego pioneer Thomas Whaley, the structure also served as a general mercantile store, and it’s believed to be the oldest two-story brick building in all of Southern California. When completed in 1857, the San Diego Union called it the most elegant home in town.
The building served at various times as the county seat and courthouse, SD’s first commercial theater, a granary, store, kindergarten and Sunday school, party venue and ballroom, polling place, and meeting place for both the City Council and County Board of Supervisors. In addition to being one of the most historic buildings in town, it has earned a reputation as “America’s Most Haunted.”
“The Whaley House is one of the most actively haunted mansions in the world today,” said famed ghost hunter Hans Holzer, who wrote more than 120 books on the subject. Reports of its hauntings have brought visitors from around the globe and in recent years has lead to numerous televised ghost investigations by shows such as Most Haunted and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In 2005 Life Magazine declared it “the most haunted house in America.”
Spirits believed to inhabit the historic home include Thomas Whaley, his wife Anna, their daughter Violet, their great-granddaughter Marion, a pet fox terrier (Dolly Varden) and “Yankee Jim” Robinson who in 1852 was hanged on the grounds where the house now stands. Legend has it that his spirit never left the spot where the gallows stood and now roams the Whaley House.
