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The Whaley House, in the heart of Old Town, San Diego- restored, refurnished and opened for public viewing- represents one of the finest examples extant of early Californiana.
Original construction of the two-story mansion was begun on May 6, 1856 by Thomas Whaley, San Diego pioneer. The building was completed on May 10, 1857. Bricks used in the structure came from a clay-bed and kiln- the first brick-yard in San Diego- which Thomas Whaley established 300 yards to the southwest of his projected home.
Much of "Old San Diego's" social life centered around this impressive home. Later the house was used as a theater for a traveling company "The Tanner Troupe", and at one time served as the San Diego County Courthouse.
The Whaley House was erected on what is now the corner of San Diego Avenue and Harney St, on a 150-by-217 foot lot, which was part of an 8 1/2 acre parcel, purchased by Whaley on September 25, 1855. The North room originally was a granary without flooring, but was remodeled when it became the County Courthouse on August 12, 1869.
Perhaps the most significant historical event involving the Whaley House was the surreptitious transfer of the county court records from it to "New Town", present site of downtown San Diego, on the night of March 31, 1871.
Despite threats to forcibly prevent even legal transfer of the courthouse to "New Town", Col. Chalmers Scott, then county clerk and recorder, and his henchmen, removed the county records under cover of darkness and transported them to a "New Town" building at 6th and G Streets.
The Whaley House would be gone today but for a group of San Diegans, who prevented it's demolition in 1956 by forming the Historical Shrine Foundation of San Diego County and buying the land and the building.
Later, the group convinced the County of San Diego that the house should be preserved as an historical museum, and restored to it's early day splendor. This was done under the supervision and guidance of an advisory committee including members of the Foundation, which today maintains the Whaley House as an historical museum.
Most of the furnishings, authenticated as in use in Whaley's time, are from other early-day San Diego County homes and were donated by interested citizens.
The last Whaley to live in the house was Corinne Lillian Whaley, youngest of Whaley's six children. She died at the age of 89 in 1953. Whaley, himself died December 14, 1890, at the age of 67. He is buried in San Diego in Mount Hope Cemetery, as is his wife Anna, who lived until February 24, 1913.
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