Historical Houses and Parks in San Diego, California

A visit to a time in the past is fun for the whole family, and can be very educational as well. When in San Diego, where should you start? The San Diego Historical Society! The San Diego History Center has a wealth of information on where to go, they provide help with research, and offers places to purchase artifacts and memorabilia. Touring old houses that may have a ghost or two is a fun way to spend an evening on a walking tour.

The Old Town State Historic Park

This fun place is part of the California State Parks group, and is a State Historic Park. There are a number of historical landmarks within the area including: La Casa de Estudillo (corner of San Diego Ave and Mason St, registered in 1932), Casa de Bandini (corner of Mason St and Calhoun St, registered in 1932), and Casa Machado (in the park visitor center in Old Town San Diego Historic Park, registered in 1932).

The living history shows what actual residents of the city did in the 1800's like do laundry, work with carpentry tools and blacksmithing, play games and sew. Those who want to know how life was really like back then can look and see how work was really done.

For those that enjoy gardening and plant horticulture, the Old Town State Historic Park has a Native Plant Garden Restoration project. This project will end up adding more than 250 different native plants, seeds and bulbs to the already growing garden of around 50 native plants. The CNPS, The San Diego Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, has been working with the Old Town State Park to beautify the gardens.

Food can be purchased and eaten at the different food establishments in the par, making it a place to spend the whole day with the family. The Casa de Reyes has outdoor dining, the Barra Barra is a saloon and a Mexican food restaurant, and the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant 10 guest rooms for stay the night with a restaurant serving steaks and wine.

Old Town State Historic Park
4002 Wallace Street, San Diego (619) 220-5422

Ghost Touring of Old Places

People interested in seeing old, historic sites with a little spook to the tour, can have a night time walking tour of the area in old town. The walking tour is about 90 minutes and starts and goes through the Old Town San Diego Historic Park. One such company, Old Town's Most Haunted, has tours for everyone, with adults pricing at $19 per person and kids 6 to 12 years old at $10 each (kids 5 and under are free).

Old Town's Most Haunted

Meeting Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10 minutes before 9pm at the water fountain in front of the Fiesta de Reyes.

2754 Calhoun St, San Diego