Heritage Park, San Diego

As the future marches on there becomes less room for the past. Heritage Park was created on a hillside just east of Old Town, to serve as a final resting place for some of S.D.'s oldest homes and buildings.

Now a part of the County's Park system. Comprised of a small group of restored buildings that now house various organizations and businesses. The offices of the County Parks and Recreation Sevices can be found here--you can make camping plans and get all the information you'd need for camping and hiking out in San Diego's back-country.

One of the buildings offers Tea or Coffee, at another you can buy souvenirs and the Jewish Temple is offered for events such as weddings. My favorite is the Christian House Bed & Breakfast!

Italianate design built by Edward Wilkerson "Ned" Bushyhead (1832-1907) who served as a San Diego sheriff, chief of police, and newspaper owner. This lovely home was moved to the park in 1976 along with two others. Mr. Bushyhead was a survivor of the Cherokee Indian death march "Trail of Tears" in 1838. He was determine to make something of himself and moved west and found success in journalism. This lovely home was moved to its Heritage Park location in summer of 1976.

Built in the Stick Eastlake style, John McConaughy was the original owner and he founded the first scheduled passenger and freight service in San Diego County with his four-horse passenger stages and six-horse wagons operating between San Diego and Julian. Moved to this location in the 1960's.

A law firm works in this lovely home and it is said it is haunted by John McConaughy.
Ghosts.org

Built in the Stick Eastlake style by John Sherman who first owned the home. In 1892-1965 the Gilbert family a San Diego lumber executive bought this lovely home, where the sisters Bess and Gertrude Gilbert, patrons of art and music, belonged to the Amphions club who brought artists from abroad in 1899 and hosted them in there home. Such artists were Yehudi Menuhin, Ernestine Schumann-Heink, and Artur Rubinstein. Moved here in 1971.

The Park Ranger office is located on the bottom floor.

Heritage Park is dedicated to the preservation of San Diego's victorian architecture. It's a 7.8 acre County park where buildings were moved when threatened by demolition on their original sites. There is a bed and breakfast inn, craft store, gift shops, and a community meeting place. Also interesting is the early synogogue. (see in another tip) The area is beautifully maintained and a good study in architecture for those who would not otherwise have access to such places. Sadly the victorian architecture is gone from the rest of the city....replaced with malls and shopping strips....restaurants and tourist attractions.

Temple Beth Israel c. 1889 is a Classic Revival building which was constructed by the Congregation Beth Israel and later became home for many religious sects before they established churches of their own. The first services were held Sept. 25, 1889. The building is beautifully preserved. Simple clean lines....lots of light streaming in.

Have a look at the interiors of the synogogue. Surprisingly like many of the old Baptist churches of the era. Wood frame construction is my preference in houses of worship. So many churches, cathedrals and synogogues are built of stone and brick. Give me a small wooden community house of worship any day.

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A visit to Heritage Park is easily combined with a visit to the Old Town Historic State Park, it's just a short walk up the hill from Old Town. Heritage Park is a collection of seven Victorian era buildings that were moved from other parts of the city. Only the Temple Beth Israel synagogue is open to visitors, two of the houses have been turned into B&Bs, another has been transformed into a tea house.

Picture 1 Sherman-Gilbert House, built 1887, style Stick Eastlake, built by John Sherman, cousin of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, currently used as a park ranger house.

Bushyhead House, built 1887, Italianate style, built for Edward Wilkerson Bushyhead, early San Diego sheriff, chief of police and San Diego Union newspaper owner, to use as a rental, currently the Heritage Park Inn, a B&B.

Picture 2 Temple Beth Israel, built 1889, Classic revival style, San Diego's first synagogue, built by the Congregation Beth Israel

Picture 3 Christian House, built 1889, Queen Anne style, built by Harfield Timberlake Christian, currently the Heritage Park Inn, a B&B.

Picture 4 Senlis Cottage, built 1896, 19th century vernacular style, built for Eugene Senlis, an employee of San Diego horticulturist Kate Sessions, known for her work at Balboa Park.

Picture 5 Burton House, built 1893, Classic revival style, built for Henry Guild Burton, retired Army physician, currently Mrs. Burton's Tearoom.

Not pictured McConaughy House, built 1887, Stick Eastlake style, built for John McConaughy who founded the first scheduled passenger and freight service in San Diego County.

I didn't get to see this part so many years ago and I was tickled I got to see it now. Adjacent to Old Town that have put together several wonderful beautiful restored Victorian Homes with some that are Bed and Breakfast places, authentic Tea House/shops, and some of the others have these little gifts shops in the front of the homes.

This is a typical Queen Anne victorian. Built by Harfield Timberlake Christian, founder of an early San Diego abstract company. A very truley lovely home that someone takes much pride in.

This is a classic revival construction was built by retired Army Physician Henry Guild Burton during a period that moderation was desired as far as outside decoration.