William Heath Davis House Museum in Gaslamp Quarter, Downtown San Diego, California

Tucked comfortably at the northeast corner of 4th Avenue at Island Street in Historic Gaslamp Quarter neighborhood, William Heath Davis' house (built in 1850) is the oldest structure in downtown San Diego. Not that you can tell by its look, mind This lovely yellow wooden house is so very well preserved and equipped with period artifacts that, loitering around in its many rooms, I sometimes find myself expecting to run into Alonzo Horton and his wife in the hall way or around the next corner.

When William Heath Davis (1822-1909) tried to develop the area back in the mid 1800's he ordered this pre-fabricated wooden house all the way from the East Coast (San Diego didn't have many trees back then. Nearly all of the trees you see at Balboa Park today were planted by Kate Sessions in the early 1900's. And most of the trees you see today are not native to the area). It was first located at the corner of Market and State Sts, closer to the bay, rented out to soldiers who would go on to participate in the Civil War. In 1867 it was purchased by Alonzo Horton, one of the city's founders (and the house now holds the distinction of being the only original structure still standing that Horton had lived in). It was also used as a County Hospital (staffed by one Anna Shepard).

The house had been private residence from the 1900's on, passing from one owner to the next under the condition that the house not be altered in anyway. The most modern upgrade the house got was in 1911, when it was finally fitted with indoor plumbing.... and the basement entrance that now serves as the museum's headquarter and gift shop was also added in 1984 when the house was moved to its current location.

The wooden floor creaks beneath your feet as you wander from room to room, peeking at the books on the shelves and the music sheet by the small piano. No two rooms are alike in this house... they even have different wallpaper. Each room here preserves a distinct story of house from its beginning where different rooms are decorated with furnishing from different points on the time-line. You move through a den that is frozen in time as if Alonzo Horton had just left for a walk just a few minutes ago, a dining room with all the period-consistent dining set and silverware set out, a nursery, a rustic music room with a little piano and score on the music stand. Looking at the wash basin that pre-indoor plumbing folks used to do their bathroom business in makes me feel a lot more grateful for the modern conveniences I enjoy now.

It really is a comfortable looking house, though you aren't allowed to sit on the furniture there (and no food and drink, please ).

The Heath Davis House has one of the loveliest tree-covered stone courtyard in town. It is surrounded by wooden benches where you can sit and enjoy a quiet afternoon watching the birds and passerby on 4th Ave and Island Ave. On the 4th Ave side of the fence are the statues of Bum and Greyfriars Bobby - two dogs who never met in real life but had since served posthumously as brother dogs that symbolize the sister city bondage between San Diego and Edinburgh, Scotland.

Bum was a St. Bernard-Spaniel mix street dog that roamed the streets of San Diego from 1886-1898. Even though he occasionally got into a fight with another dog (and lost his right paw and the tip of his tail in the process), he was friendly with kids and most people. So much so that the city gave him a lifetime dog tag and declared him the official Town Dog. When he died, the local children collected pennies to pay him a proper funeral.

Bobby was a Skye Terrier that earned his legend when he faithfully guarded his owner, John Gray,'s grave after he died in the mid 1850's. His loyalty to his master so touched the Lord Provost that he was given a collar and a personalized dog license for life (and might have been visited by Queen Victoria herself, also).

An identical pair of bronze statues of both dogs were cast and serve as landmarks here at the Heath Davis House in San Diego and on the sidewalk near the Greyfriars Kirkyard cemetery in Edinburgh.

Click here to see a slide show of photos from William Heath Davis House museum.

The Historical Society here has been quite affected by the lack of donation due to the sluggish economy and the place is rather understaffed. There usually is a volunteer manning the entrance/exit at the store in the basement (and s/he is always very friendly and knowledgeable about the history of the house and its exhibits). You can just tour the place on your own (they have surveillance cameras at various places in the house, though, so you've better behave yourself!). There is no admission fee to get in. The Historical Society also offers a guided walking tour of the Historic Gaslamp Quarter that takes off and ends at the Heath Davis House every Saturday at 11 AM for only $10. A great deal!

William Heath Davis House Museum: 410 Island Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101, Tel (619) 233-4692
Museum Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11AM-6PM; Saturday & Sunday 10AM-4PM. Free admission.