Learn about current park closures and updates.
2454 Heritage Park Row, San Diego, CA 92110
Park: (619)
531-4952
Reservations Center: (858) 565-3600, (877) 565-3600
GARDEN ENHANCEMENT RIBBON CUTTING RESCHEDULED
TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2025 | 9:00 A.M.
View the park brochure, more photos, and the video!
Step back in time and experience the beautifully restored Victorian-era homes and San Diego’s first synagogue, Temple Beth Israel — a beloved venue for hosting weddings and celebrations. This charming County park is adjacent to Old Town in San Diego and is a fine example of the Victorian architecture of wealthy San Diego residents in the late 1880s-1890s. The large lawn remains open to the public and is available for event reservations.
For Reservations please call 619-531-4952 or email Supervising Park Ranger Hannah Shipley at hannah.shipley@sdcounty.ca.gov.
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. The Coral Tree Tea House in McConaughy House, the ranger office and interpretive room in Senlis Cottage, and Temple Beth Israel will remain open during the duration of construction.
Following direction from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on June 29, 2021, the park’s historic homes will be thoughtfully retrofitted as unique overnight stays while preserving their Victorian exteriors. The renovations will include 22 hotel rooms across six historic structures.
Project Timeline:
Conceptual master plan of proposed hotel spaces
Celebrate the newly revitalized upper lawn and gardens — featuring accessible pathways, an outdoor meeting space, a beautiful wedding gazebo, and lush new landscaping funded by a State of California Per Capita Grant (Prop 68).
EVENT RESCHEDULED - TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2025 | 9:00 A.M.
Enjoy:
Conceptual rendering of outdoor classroom
Questions or Accessibility Requests?
Amy Hoffman, Park Project Manager
📞
619-695-6003 | ✉️ Amy.Hoffman1@sdcounty.ca.gov
Si desea que alguno de los enlaces en esta página se traduzca al español, comuníquese con Amy.Hoffman1@sdcounty.ca.gov..
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Center page for park events, updates and closures.
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Development Projects.
Park Office/Senlis Cottage (1896)
Nineteenth Century
Vernacular style
A modest cottage built for Eugene
Senlis, an employee of San Diego Pioneer Horticulturist Kate Sessions.
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
Built in 1887 the house is named for its original owner, John
McConaughy. In 1888 Fanny Keating acquired the house and used the
home to fulfill her late husband’s wish of creating a hospital. The
house had to be remodeled and enlarged before it could be used. The
Hospital of the Good Samaritans opened in spring 1889 making it one of
the earliest hospitals in San Diego.
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.
