Learn about the spirits who call the infamous Whaley House home.
Old Town San Diego has a different aura than the rest of the city. It’s as if you can feel the history around you. Before San Diego was known for its beaches, zoo, and delicious food, it was a Spanish settlement. By the time the United States took over the area in the mid-1800s, the land had garnered a rich history, and you can feel the energy throughout the home.
The Whaley House is in the center of Old Town. Among the small pueblo-style buildings, the elaborate mansion sticks out. That’s not only because of its architecture, but also because of the overall haunting vibe it gives. You can almost sense the spirits just from standing outside. This home isn’t just the most haunted house in San Diego; it’s allegedly the most haunted house in the country.
Thomas Whaley and his family built their home in 1856, and the hauntings started immediately. From the land’s creepy history to the tragedies the Whaley family endured, it’s no surprise that this house still feels alive even though no one calls it home anymore.
The recorded deaths on the property
It’s no secret that the land in the United States carries a heavy weight. The abhorrent deaths of Native Americans and the wars that transpired left a lasting feeling. The Whaley House has its own story of death before the home was built, and it’s gorier than you may imagine. Before Thomas Whaley and his family moved in, the town’s gallows were located on the property.
In August of 1852, a man named James “Yankee Jim” Robinson was accused of stealing a rowboat. He was charged with grand larceny and sentenced to be hanged at the public gallows, although there was no strong evidence against him. It was believed to be a case of mistaken identity, but that didn’t stop his hanging.
A death sentence like this is traumatizing for everyone involved, but Yankee Jim’s went incredibly wrong. It was botched, as his neck didn’t break. Instead, he suffered, alive, for 45 minutes as he was slowly strangled to death.
The public was allowed to attend, and a certain someone was there that day. Thomas Whaley witnessed the hanging unfold and still chose to purchase the land only a few years later. Apparently, Thomas cared more about business than anything else and jumped on the chance to buy the land at a reasonable price.
Allegedly, Yankee Jim’s last words were a curse on San Diego. After his death, floods and fires followed, especially on the Whaley house property. Thomas believed Yankee Jim’s spirit lived on in the home, writing in his diaries that he was being haunted. Long before it was dubbed America’s most haunted house, the original family dealt with spirits.
The cemetery around the corner
Hundreds of people were hanged at the gallows, and some were laid to rest just around the corner in El Campo Santo Cemetery. After watching Yankee Jim’s death, Thomas Whaley built the home only miles from his grave.
At one point, the cemetery had nearly 500 bodies buried in it. But not all of the bodies stayed in their plots. When they paved the streets and sidewalks, they paved over some of the cemetery’s residents. If it feels especially creepy over by the Whaley House, this may be why.
The construction of the home
Construction began on May 6, 1856. According to the San Diego Museum Council, Thomas Whaley proclaimed, “My new house, when completed, will be the handsomest, most comfortable and convenient place in town or within 150 miles of here.” He would quickly learn that it wouldn’t be all that comfortable given the tragedy and alleged spirits lurking in the dark.
The Whaley family had money. Thomas came to California during the gold rush and was successful, and he ran a store selling mining gear. The family’s wealth went straight to his elaborate estate.
Built in the Greek Revival style, the home was the first of its kind. From the cost (a whopping $10,000 in 1800s cash) to the décor (all imported furniture and wood), it displayed the owner’s wealth in a way San Diego had never seen before. It especially stood out among the area’s modest, pueblo-style surroundings.
Thomas wanted to do more than entertain company. His home became a cultural hub in the city, which may have contributed to the ghostly goings-on.
The home as a cultural hub
The Whaleys liked the idea of housing the community. Their massive mansion also served as the town’s meeting space. It held San Diego’s first commercial theater, the second courthouse, and a bilingual general store. People came and went constantly during its heyday. Just maybe, they never actually left.
The courtroom is believed to be haunted by past criminals. The room, located where you first walk into the home, was the scene of courtroom dramas that would put “Law & Order” to shame. Constant yelling, a banging gavel, and footsteps radiated throughout the house. Some visitors claim they still hear these noises when they tour the estate.
The family
Thomas Whaley was the family’s patriarch. Born in New York, New York, on October 5, 1823, he spent several years in the state. When the Gold Rush hit, he, like many others, headed west to California, hoping to strike big. In San Francisco, he ran a successful store, but when his house burned down, he moved to San Diego. First, he returned to New York to marry his first love, Anna Eloise DeLaunay.
Anna’s history isn’t as documented as her husband’s. Women of the time were rarely seen as more than someone’s wife. It’s not surprising that what we know about her comes from her time as a homemaker with 6 children. However, Anna is believed to be one of the most prevalent spirits because of the suffering she felt there. Her life was one tragedy after another under their roof.
The couple had 6 children: Francis, Thomas Jr., Anna, George, Violet, and Corrine. Two of these children would meet their demise inside the home under heartbreaking circumstances.
Tragedy in the Whaley family
While many believe Yankee Jim and those who lost in court still roam the halls, the main apparitions seen in the home are of the Whaley family themselves. They endured several tragedies while they lived there, including the death of two children.
The Whaleys endured the tragic losses of Thomas Jr. and Violet, which many believe is the root of the home’s hauntings. Thomas Jr. was the first of the Whaley kids to pass away in the house. He was only 18 months old when he contracted scarlet fever. Struggling with grief, the Whaleys left the home but returned 10 years later. Sadly, there would be another death when they returned.
Violet Whaley had a complicated life. In 1882, she and George Thomas Bertolacci tied the knot in the family home. Their union was far from perfect. Just months after the nuptials, George revealed he wasn’t a loving husband. He wrote a letter telling Violet that he was a con man and married her to get his hands on the Whaley fortune.
This humiliated Violet and the Whaleys. Being abandoned by a spouse was a big deal back then, and the public had strong opinions about Violet’s failed marriage. She was shunned from the community. Even her family rejected her. It all became too much for her.
At just 22 years old, Violet committed suicide by shooting herself with her father’s gun inside the Whaley family home. She left a note that read, “Mad from life’s history. Swift to death’s mystery. Glad to be hurled. Anywhere, anywhere, out of this world.”
Suffering from extreme depression, many believe her tragic spirit still haunts the home. Although these were the greatest tragedies the family saw in the house, Thomas and Anna both died inside. They are allegedly some of the most active spirits in the home.
The home’s string of bad luck
The deaths in the house seem like a curse. Yankee Jim claimed to have unleashed one on the city of San Diego, and what unfolded on the property seemed to follow it. Shortly after Thomas built the property, it caught fire. Thanks to rats, the Whaley’s general store was also caught in flames.
Thomas was no stranger to fires. A massive fire destroyed his San Francisco general store, which is why he moved to San Diego to begin with.
Visitors feel the energy of the past residents centuries later
The Whaley family’s energy still radiates through the house’s bones. Now open to visitors, the paranormal experiences the Whaleys felt have continued, and now they may be part of it. Visitors report feeling the spirits of Violet, Thomas, and Anna walking through the home.
Many visitors report smelling the classic French perfume Anna was always wearing. They also see her ghost lingering in the garden and kitchen. Thomas’ spirit can be seen at the top of the stairs, still overlooking the home he poured his heart into. Both are believed to leave heavy mist around the home.
Baby George has also lingered. Guests have heard a baby crying, tiny footsteps, and a child’s giggle when no one is around. Although George’s life was short, many believe he has lived on within the home’s walls.
Violet is often the most prominent spirit. The home’s employees and visitors have both reported feeling her heavy, sad energy around them. She may be the spirit who uncomfortably plays with women’s hair. She’s also infamous for leaving cold spots around the home.
Of course, Yankee Jim is still felt throughout the house. His ghost has been there since the mid-1800s, after all. Many have reported loud stomping up and down the stairs, just like Thomas experienced shortly after Jim’s hanging.
You can go ghost hunting yourself
If you’re brave enough to meet the spirits, the Whaley House has tours throughout the week. Self-guided tours are available daily for only $15. Tickets can be purchased online.
However, true ghost hunters can explore the house after hours. A paranormal night tour, featuring equipment like thermal cameras and EMF readers, invites the Whaley family to show themselves in their beloved home. The paranormal tour varies in price but is roughly $150. Learn more and book your reservations on the Whaley House website.
