The Whaley House - San Diego, California

Thomas Whaley came from a family of rich history.  His Grandfather, Alexander Whaley participated in the Boston Tea Party and allowed General George Washington to use his home as headquarters while on Long Island during the Revolutionary War.  Thomas left New York City during the gold rush in the late 1840's.  He prospered selling hardware and mining equipment to those searching for gold and was a prosperous business man along with many others during the gold rush.  He married his love from New York City and built a home in San Diego considered fine for the era in 1853.  It was very sturdy and made of brick.

Thomas Whaley

The Whaley House in the late 1800's

After a while the family moved to San Francisco after suffering some hardships. Then the earthquake of 1868 hit San Francisco and Thomas moved his family back to the brick house in San Diego which he also used as a store.  In 1885 Violet, one of the Whaley daughters, was distraught over her marriage failing and returned to the Whaley home where she committed suicide.

Thomas then moved his family into another home in San Diego and the Whaley house became abandoned and fell into disrepair.  After Thomas Whaley passed away his son Francis restored the home and lived there for a while.  Over the years various Whaleys lived and died in this home.  In time, it was turned into various businesses, public offices, a library, etc.

The Whaley House today

The Whaley house is known as one of the most haunted homes in America.  The torrid history of the land it was built on started long before Thomas Whaley constructed his home on it.  It was once the site of a set of gallows where criminals met their end.  One of the most famous of these outlaws being "Yankee Jim" Robinson.  He was put to death there in 1862.  Witnesses say that Yankee Jim struggled to keep his big boots on the back of the wagon that he was placed on as long as possible until it was pulled far enough out of reach until he met his demise.  While living in the home build over this very spot, the Whaley family claimed to have been able to hear the hear the sounds of heavy footsteps coming from an invisible source on the second floor of the house.  Windows also seemed to unlock and open themselves at will.  When visitors would hear this disturbance, the Whaley's would dismiss it and tell them that it was just Yankee Jim wandering around.

Anna Whaley passed away in this home and some have claimed to see her apparition moving about the house doing her chores. Smells of perfume and baking in the kitchen has been smelled when the days of cooking are long over since the home is now a museum. Even television personality Regis Philbin has claimed to have seen Anna Whaley's apparition while visiting the house.  Others have claimed to have seen Thomas Whaley in the upstairs window smoking his pipe.  Sounds of children laughing and playing have been heard in the house and around the grounds. Even visions of a ghost dog believed to be a fox terrier has been seen roaming the grounds. Women touring the house with bare legs have claimed to have felt a licking sensation on their calves.  The Whaley's owned a fox terrier named Dolly.

Friends of the Whaley's are not to be left out of the hauntings either.  It is said that a young friend of the Whaley children, believed to be Annabel Washburn, has been seen roaming the house.  She died in the kitchen after accidentally getting her neck caught in the clothes line while playing outside in the back yard.

At one time the downstairs of the Whaley house served as a courthouse.  Apparitions have been seen right in the middle of the court room.  One was even caught on film and appears as a shadow figure.  It is believed that this may be the spirit of Mrs. Anna Whaley.

In center left of this photo is believed to be a shadow person

With such a long history and so many ghosts haunting this home, it is easy to see why many consider it "The most haunted house in America".  The house is now open as a tourist attraction. Visit at:

 Whaley House Museum

2476 San Diego Avenue, San Diego, CA

Modern day Whaley House museum

San Diego on Dwellable