The haunted Whaley House Museum offers a frightfully fun schedule of ghostly attractions

The Whaley House Coutroom

Halloween doesn’t come around until Oct. 31, but the Whaley House Museum in Old Town — now operated by the Save Our Heritage Organisation — has schedule several days of spirited special events before that spooky day comes. With extended hours, period lighting and music, exclusive guided tours, a guided tour of Mt. Hope Cemetery, and after-hours ghost hunts, guests will be sure to enjoy frightfully fun times.
The museum’s haunted reputation dates back 150 years to when the Whaley family first occupied the building. “Soon after the couple and their children moved in, heavy footsteps were heard moving about the house,” says an account in The San Diego Union on Oct. 26, 1883. “Whaley described them as sounding as though they were made by the boots of a large man. Finally he came to the conclusion that these unexplained footfalls were made by Yankee Jim Robinson (who was hanged on the property in 1852.)”
“The Whaley House is one of the most actively haunted mansions in the world today,” said ghost hunter Hans Holzer, who wrote more than 120 books on the subject. Its reputation has 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 and his wife Anna, their daughter Violet, their great-granddaughter Marion, their fox terrier Dolly Varden, and of course “Yankee Jim” Robinson.
Robinson, a desperado convicted of attempted grand larceny, was hanged on the grounds where the Whaley House now stands in September 1852, a few years before the building was constructed. Legend has it that his spirit never left the spot where the gallows stood and now roams the halls of the Whaley House.
The Whaley House was built by San Diego pioneer Thomas Whaley to house his growing family and his general mercantile store, and is believed to be the oldest two-story brick building in Southern California. When completed in 1857, The San Diego Union called it the most elegant home in San Diego. The building served at various times as the county seat and courthouse, San Diego’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. Former California state Sen. James Mills has said that the Whaley House “has sheltered more history than any other building in the city.”

October Schedule of Events
(Except for special limited tours, no reservations are necessary)

Friday, Oct. 16
Whaley House Ghost Tour
12:30 a.m. -2 a.m.
Join the Whaley House Museum staff and the San Diego Ghost Hunters for an exclusive hour-long paranormal investigation of “America’s Most Haunted.”
Attendance is limited to 20 each night, advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. $50 per person.
Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24
Open 10 a.m.-midnight. Daytime admission $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (55+); $4 for children (3-12); 2 and under are free. Evening admission (5p.m.-midnight) $10 for adults; $5 for children (3-12); 2 and under are free.

Whaley House Ghost Tour
12:30 a.m.-2 a.m. (After museum closes at midnight Friday and Saturday).
Join the Whaley House Museum staff and the San Diego Ghost Hunters for an exclusive hour-long paranormal investigation of “America’s Most Haunted.” Attendance is limited to 20 each night, advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. $50 per person.

Sunday, Oct. 25
Mount Hope Cemetery Tour
1-4 p.m.
Some of San Diego’s most notable citizens are waiting for you beneath the beautiful grounds and rolling hills of Mount Hope Cemetery. Join historian Alex Bevil as he evokes the storied past of this historic cemetery, highlighting history, mysteries, and scandals involving those who make Mount Hope their final resting place. Attendance is limited to 20, advance ticket purchase strongly recommended. $20 for SOHO Members; $25 for nonmembers. For more details and tickets, visit sohosandiego.org, select Tours & Events from menu.
Monday, Oct. 26 and Tuesday, Oct. 27
Open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Daytime admission $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (55+); $4 for children (3-12); 2 and under are free. Evening admission (5-10 p.m.)
$10 for adults; $5 for children (3-12); 2 and under are free.

Exclusive Oil Lamp Tours
10:30-11:30 p.m.
A special hour-long, guided oil lamp tour of the haunted Whaley House. Learn about the history and the mystery of one of San Diego’s most historic and most haunted attractions. Interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing are available with two weeks notice. Call (619) 297-7511 to make request.
Attendance is limited to 20 each night, advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. $25 per person.
Wednesday, Oct. 28
Open 5-10 p.m. Admission $10 for adults; $5 for children (3-12); 2 and under are free.
Exclusive Oil Lamp Tours
10:30-11:30 p.m.
Another hour-long, guided oil lamp tour of the Whaley House. Interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing are available with two weeks notice. Call (619) 297-7511 to make request. Attendance is limited to 20 each night, advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. $25 per person.
Thursday, Oct. 29
Open 10 a.m.-midnight. Daytime admission $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (55+); $4 for children (3-12); 2 and under are free. Evening admission (5 p.m.-midnight) $10 for adults; $5 for children (3-12); 2 and under are free.

Friday, Oct. 30
Open 10 a.m.-midnight. Daytime admission $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (55+); $4 for children (3-12); 2 and under are free. Evening admission (5 p.m.-midnight) $10 for adults; $5 for children (3-12); 2 and under are free.
Saturday, Oct. 31
Open 10 a.m. -5p.m. Daytime admission $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (55+); $4 for children (3-12); 2 and under are free.

Halloween Nighttime
5 p.m.-midnight. Period music, historic lighting, & tales of paranormal encounters will raise your spirits. $15 per person.