Whaley House and Museum

One of the highlights in San Diego is the famous (and haunted) Whaley House in Old Town.

The 158-year-old house was home to the Whaley Family and also served as the first general store in San Diego, a court house, a theater (pictured above), a ballroom and a school.

But the history of the Whaley house includes a much darker side. In addition to the list of things the house used to be, hangings happened on the property before the building was constructed. The family was also plagued by the suicide of Thomas and Anna's daughter Violet Whaley in 1885.

According to the Whaley House Web site, the house hosts ghosts from its past.

The first ghost is Thomas Whaley himself. People have smelt cigar smoke on the front porch of the house when no one else is around or when no one in the surrounding area is smoking.

"Yankee Jim" Robertson is another ghost known to haunt the area. He was convicted to death in 1852 and hanged on the same area that the house is on. People have heard heavy footsteps and have seen a 6-foot tall shadow figure in the corner of their eyes.

Even the Whaley's dog, Dolly Varden can be seen in various parts of the room, especially in the theater.

Visitors can tour the house with a tour guide for a fee of $5.00 in the day time and $10.00 at night. For all prices and hours, click here.

San Diego Ghost Tours

Feeling the need for some ghostly fun?

San Diego is home to many different type of ghost tours. In particular, Old Town features two different tours that visitors can take. Participants will have the chance to learn the history of Old Town and to see if they can capture a ghost on their camera.

The Ghost Walking Tour features an hour walk around Old Town with a guide dressed in Victorian Era clothing. The ghost guide not only tells the audience about the ghosts in the buildings, but the history behind how and why the buildings were built. Visitors might be surprised at the restaurants and shops that are haunted and the historic significance the building had. (Pictured above: the El Campo Santo Cemetery with at least four orbs).

Tours begin at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in front of the Living Room Cafe and ends at the Whaley House. Tickets are $10.00 a person.

For a few more dollars, a different walking tour starting at 11 p.m. will take you to various haunted places with "ghost equipment" that is seen on shows like "Ghost Adventurers". The ghost guide will take participants into haunted buildings including Mission Hills Park and let them hold EMF readers to communicate with the deceased.

An earlier tour begins at 9 p.m. but doesn't include the equipment. Tickets are $19.00 a person. For more information or for tickets, click here.

For a list of other types of ghost tours in San Diego, click here.