The Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House consists of an informative gallery space located inside one of the most historic structures remaining in San Diego. The Davis-Horton House dates back to 1850, and today is proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Gaslamp Museum regularly features rotating exhibits, and is a tremendous resource for visitors who want to learn more about the unique history of the Gaslamp Quarter neighborhood and the greater San Diego region in general. The Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House is open for an assortment of different tours.
Save on your visit to the Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House!
Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House is included on the Go San Diego Pass. Save an additional 5% on the Go City Pass with Coupon Code: GO5CMANTIS The discount stacks on top the current sale prices! Promo expires on February 29th.
Gaslamp Museum History and Background
The home known today as the Davis-Horton House is the oldest surviving building found anywhere in San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, a vibrant 16 square-block neighborhood at the heart of downtown San Diego. The home was constructed by William Heath Davis in 1850, the influential founder of San Diego’s “New Town” settlement, out of prefabricated materials shipped all the way from Portland, Maine, to San Diego. In 1867, the house was purchased for the sum of $100 by the man who would become known as “The Father of San Diego,” Alonzo Horton—setting the stage for the hyphenated name by which the house goes today. In the intervening years, the home would pass through a series of different owners, serving at various times as a private residence, military headquarters, and hospital. It was even moved to a new location on two separate occasions, coming to rest in its current location in 1977 when the city of San Diego took possession of the property. After a thorough restoration, the Davis-Horton House stands today as the home of the Gaslamp Museum, where visitors from all over the world can experience this important piece of San Diego history.
Gaslamp Museum Highlights and Tours
There are a variety of tours available to those visitors interested in learning more about the fascinating role this historic site has played throughout the past two centuries of life in San Diego.
• The most basic tour of the Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House available is a self-guided, general admission tour running Thursdays through Saturdays between the hours of 10:00am and 4:00pm. Tickets currently cost $8 per person, and may be purchased in advance or at the door. Regardless of how you buy your ticket, admission is first come, first served.
• For those visitors traveling as a family or in a group, the Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House is open exclusively on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for private tours accommodating between 2 and 6 guests. This tour is also self-guided, but you’ll have the entire facility to yourself for approximately 45 minutes. Admission costs $10 per person, and must be purchased as a block of tickets.
• The Gaslamp Quarter Historical Tour is a nice option for those visitors who want to experience the Davis-Horton House in the broader context of its surrounding neighborhood, the lovely Gaslamp Quarter. This walking tour is offered on Saturdays at 11:00am and Thursdays at 1:00pm, this guided tour lasts two hours and includes a tour of the Davis-Horton House alongside visits to historic San Diego landmarks like Old City Hall, the Keating Building, the Louis Bank of Commerce, and more. Tickets cost $20 per person.
• A specialty tour that is popular with many visitors to the area is the Gaslamp Ghost Walking Tour. Led by the official historian of the Davis-Horton House, this guided tour emphasizes the spooky side of the home’s history while examining many of the local hauntings still said to occur throughout the area. Tickets cost $20 per person. Consult the home’s website for the latest information on tour time and availability.
Helpful Tips for Gaslamp Museum Visitors
Here are a few reminders to help make your Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House experience go as smoothly as possible.
• If you are planning to visit many tourist attractions while in Sand Diego, think about buying a Go San Diego Pass. It includes admission to the Gaslamp Museum as well as lot of other popular tourist attractions for one price.
• All private, self-guided tours of the Davis-Horton House must be booked at least 24 hours in advance. There are no walk-up tickets available for this tour.
• The Gaslamp Quarter Historical Tour takes place regardless of the weather conditions, so if that particular outing is on your agenda, make certain to come prepared for any and all elements.
• Not only does the Gaslamp Museum have a small gift shop with an assortment of San Diego souvenirs, books, toys, jewelry, and more, but it also sells tickets for the San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour at a discounted rate. If you find yourself at the Davis-Horton House, and you’re intrigued by going on a guided trolley tour of the city but haven’t yet taken action, this deal is something to consider.
