Marston House

Location: Balboa Park (3 Miles Northeast of Downtown San Diego)

Hours: Guided Tours Start every half-hour, Friday-Sunday 10AM-4:30PM

Cost: $8 ($4 for Kids 6-12, $5 for Seniors 65+)

Features: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places; Built in 1905 and surrounded by Gardens; Part of 7th Avenue Walking Tour.

Marston House Highlights: The “8,500 square-foot home is surrounded by four acres of rolling lawns, manicured formal gardens, and canyon pathways.” It was built in 1905 for prominent businessman George Marston. The home was designed by Irving Gill with a mix of Victorian, English Tudor, and Craftsman architecture. One of the more unique attributes is the home’s efficient use of space. Famous guests have included Booker T. Washington and Theodore Roosevelt. You will learn a lot about the architectural design and the history of the home and Marstons on your hour-long tour.

Afterwards, be sure to get a Seventh Avenue Walking Tour pamphlet in the gift shop. You can stroll through the neighborhood and learn about the architecture and history of other homes built shortly after the Marston home. These homes are privately owned and not open to the public. One of the homes, the Burnham House, which is also on the National Register of Historic Places, includes more information about its history online.

You can also spend time in the cozy Marston House Gardens, which is a part of Balboa Park and is always open to the public.

*** The Marston House is back open with help from the Save Our Heritage Organisation and the Friends of the Marston House. ***

Food – There are dozens of restaurants in the area. You will find them scattered along 5th and 6th Avenues with a larger concentration on University and Washington Avenues to the north.

Information on Visiting the Marston House

Admission Prices: (Costs are Approximate)

Parking is Free
Standard Fee is $8
$5 for Seniors 65 and over
$4 for kids 6-12 years old.
Kids under 6 get in free.

Directions from Google Maps to 3525 Seventh Avenue in San Diego, CA 92103. The Marston House is in the northwest corner of Balboa Park, a little over a mile from most Balboa Park attractions.

Traffic – Unless there is a major event at Balboa Park, which occurs a few times during the year, getting in and out is relatively easy using 6th Avenue. (Learn how to get the latest traffic updates.)

Parking – Your only option is street parking. There is no parking lot for the Marston House and the driveway is roped off. Seventh Avenue is a dead-end residential street. If you can’t find street parking here, you can also try Upas Street.

Transit – Buses run within a couple blocks of the Marston House. See San Diego Transit Information for the downtown transit map, which includes Balboa Park, and information for the online Transit Planner.

Balboa Park Map – The map shows a listing of all Balboa Park Museums, attractions, bus and tram stops, and places to eat. You should also print out the Balboa Park Tram Map from the City of San Diego. It is not as detailed but is helpful because it includes names on each of the buildings. With the other map, you need to use a map key to find the name of a building. Note: The Tram stop at Quince Street is five blocks from the Marston House. There are sidewalks and the area is flat, making it an easy walk for most visitors.