Volunteerism is at the
Heart of the Preservation Movement!!Visitors coming to the Thomas Whaley House Museum are independent, well-educated travelers who find in San Diego an environment rich in history and culture. The museum is an attraction that is interesting from not only the paranormal perspective for which it is world famous, but even more so from a cultural and historic view. Volunteer docents in the museum greet each visitor and give them a brief background of the house and its occupants and how San Diegans lived in the Victorian era. As they relate the stories of the Whaleys and early San Diego, the visitors get an insight into how the fabric of our communities have been shaped by these pioneer families.
We are now in the process of recruiting docents and are looking for persons who like people and are willing to visit and converse with them. We ask for 4-hour shifts and hours of operation vary depending on the season.
The museum provides not only an enriching experience for tourists, but for local residents as well. Approximately 35% of our visitors are residents of San Diego. Many docents have been surprised with meeting old friends and family right here in the museum. Volunteers enjoy earned memberships, discounts, a quarterly publication, special events, new friends, and much more!
Skills required: Enthusiasm and flexibility with an interest in San Diego History, Historic preservation, architecture, and/or interior design.
Application submittal: Please print and fill in the docent application form, then submit it by mail or fax. You will be called for a brief interview and then asked to come in for a more in dept interview with our volunteer coordinator.
Training: You will be asked to study the information on this site. Reading material is provided for self-study as well. We then require 3 weeks of training one on one with a senior docent before you begin your regular docent schedule.
