2454 Heritage Park Row, San Diego, CA 92110
Reservations: (858) 565-3600, (877) 565-3600
This charming County park is adjacent to Old Town in San Diego, and features several restored Victorian homes and the city’s first synagogue, The Temple Beth Israel. It is a fine example of the Victorian architecture of wealthy San Diego residents in the late 1880s-1890s. The Temple Beth Israel now hosts weddings, receptions and bar mitzvahs. The large lawn remains open to the public and is available for event reservations.
NOTE: With the exception of the Senlis Cottage and Temple Beth Israel, the homes have been restored on the exterior, only, and are not open to the public.
Visit the News & Events page for park events, updates and closures.
.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.web.1280.1280.jpeg)
.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.web.1280.1280.jpeg)
Park Office/Senlis Cottage (1896)
Nineteenth Century
Vernacular style
A modest cottage built for Eugene
Senlis, an employee of San Diego Pioneer Horticulturist. This house,
without the amenities of gas, electricity, water, or sewer, is an
example of dwellings occupied in the 1880s by working-class people.
Park restrooms are located on the north side of the building next to
the parking circle. The museum is on the west side of the cottage.
Sherman-Gilbert House (1887)
Stick Eastlake style (City Historic Site #8)
This house was
built and first owned by John Sherman, cousin of General William
Tecumseh Sherman. The "widow's walk" and circular window
are key elements of the first structure moved to Heritage Park in
the spring of 1971. From 1892 to 1965, sisters Bess and Gertrude
Gilbert, patrons of art and music, brought internationally famous
entertainers to receptions in their home. Among the artists were
Yehudi Menuhin, Ernestine Schumann-Heink, and Artur Rubinstein. The
park office is located on the bottom floor.
Bushyhead House (1887)
Italianate style
Edward Wilkerson
Bushyhead, early San Diego Sheriff, Chief of Police, and San Diego
Union Newspaper owner, built this house as a rental. The Italianate
style combines double doors with glass panels, tall protruding bay
windows, regularly spaced brackets, and a low-pitched roof. The
Bushyhead House (along with the Christian House and the Burton
House) was moved to its Heritage Park location in the summer of
1976. Bushyhead, who was part Cherokee Indian, marched in the
"Trail of Tears" during the displacement of the
Southeastern tribes in 1838-39.
Christian House (1889)
Queen Anne style
This graceful
residence was constructed by Harfield Timberlake Christian, founder
of an early San Diego abstract company. It is built in a popular
late Victorian design characterized by a variety of chimneys,
shingles, a corner tower, and an encircling veranda.
McConaughy House (1887)
Stick Eastlake style
The house is named
for its original owner, John McConaughy, who founded the first
scheduled passenger and freight service in San Diego County. His
four-horse passenger stage and six-horse wagon operated between San
Diego and Julian.
Burton House (1893)
Classic Revival style
Pediments and dentil cornices inspired by classic sources mark
this house. Henry Guild Burton, retired Army physician, built it
during a trend that by the turn of the century began to eliminate decoration.
Temple Beth Israel (1889)
Classic Revival style (City Historic Site #82)
San
Diego's first synagogue, constructed by the Congregation Beth Israel,
also became temporary quarters for many religious sects before they
established churches of their own. The structure reflects the church
styles of the late 1800s. The first service was held on September 25, 1889.
