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After-Hours Group Tours
Seven Tours to Choose From
Are you looking for unique local tour opportunities for your group? SOHO offers docent-led tours outside of our regular operating hours which can be customized to meet your group's needs. *Only the first floor of the museum is wheelchair accessible.
Marston House Guided Group Tour
The 8,500-square-foot Marston House, with its extensive grounds and outbuildings, provides a rare glimpse into the lifestyle of one of San Diego's most prominent and progressive families. Learn about the family, and the master architects and landscape designers who worked with them to create one of the region's most important estates. Tours are led by a knowledgeable docent. For bus tours, the driver is complimentary. Depending on docent availability, we can accommodate up to 48 visitors within two hours, 15 per 45-minute tour.
- All group tours require a minimum of 10 people
- Groups of more than 12 will be broken into smaller numbers
- Must be reserved at least one week in advance
- Must be paid for at time reservation is made
- Cancellations must be made at least 12 hours in advance for refund
- Allow 60 to 90 minutes for your home tour at the Marston House, to include the use of restroom facilities, and allow extra time if you wish to view the public gardens as well
- Tour starts at the Marston House Museum Shop in the carriage house
Adults
Senior Citizens
Reserve your date and purchase Marston House Guided Group Tour tickets
Bankers Hill Walking Tour
The sloped terrain of Bankers Hill, near downtown San Diego, is blessed with pedestrian bridges over canyons and views of San Diego Bay that few affluent professionals and first families and their architects could resist. This 90-minute guided walking tour contains new content inspired by SOHO's celebration Irving Gill: Progress & Poetry in Architecture. These city blocks are rich in the early 20th-century Modern architecture that Gill pioneered and include the largest concentration of Gill homes built anywhere, on hidden Albatross Street. *Directions to the tour location will be provided at time of reservation.
- All tours require a minimum of 10 people
- Groups of more than 20 will be broken into smaller numbers
- Must be reserved at least one week in advance
- Must be paid for at time reservation is made
- Cancellations must be made at least 12 hours in advance for refund
- Tour starts on the northwest corner of Albatross Street and West Walnut Avenue, San Diego 92103
Adults
Senior Citizens
Reserve your date and purchase Bankers Hill Walking Tour tickets
Seventh Avenue Walking Tour: A Progressive Vision
What began as a ten-acre, barren enclave owned by George W. Marston is now the shady and secluded 3500 block of Seventh Avenue, a cul-de-sac that is perfect for a one-hour guided walking tour. This tour contains new content inspired by SOHO's celebration called Irving Gill: Progress & Poetry in Architecture. The Marston House Museum & Gardens is one of about ten homes on the street, built between 1905 and 1913. Many were designed by Gill, when he was a partner in Hebbard & Gill, and they illustrate his design progression from English Arts & Crafts to Prairie Style to his ultimate triumph, cubistic Early Modernism-all in the space of two years, 1905 and 1906.
- All tours require a minimum of 10 people
- Groups of more than 20 will be broken into smaller numbers
- Must be reserved at least one week in advance
- Must be paid for at time reservation is made
- Cancellations must be made at least 12 hours in advance for refund
- Tour starts at the Marston House Museum Shop in the carriage house
Adults
Senior Citizens
Reserve your date and purchase Seventh Avenue Walking Tour tickets
Marston House Guided Garden Tour
With its uniquely California interpretation of the English Romantic and Arts & Crafts period landscape designs, this tour is a must for garden lovers. The garden tour takes you on an easy walk through two and a half acres of the estate beginning with the first plantings and landscape plan by nationally recognized landscape architect Samuel Parsons, Jr., and George Cooke in 1905 to the 1928 introduction of a formal garden. *The Garden Tour is hosted seasonally from March to October.
- All tours require a minimum of 10 people
- Groups of more than 20 will be broken into smaller numbers
- Must be reserved at least one week in advance
- Must be paid for at time reservation is made
- Cancellations must be made at least 12 hours in advance for refund
- Tour starts at the Marston House Museum Shop in the carriage house
Adults
Senior Citizens
Reserve your date and purchase Marston House Guided Garden Tour tickets
Architectural Details of Master Architects Hebbard & Gill Tour
Take a walk on the architectural side with a 90-minute guided tour of the 1905 Marston House Museum inside and out. The San Diego firm of Hebbard & Gill designed the inviting English Arts & Crafts mansion with fluid indoor-outdoor connections. Irving Gill, who soon became San Diego's pioneering Modernist, created many of its design features and innovative conveniences. The story begins at the carriage house for the estate (now SOHO's Marston House Museum Shop), then circles around the house in its Balboa Park and formal garden setting. Inside and out, architectural and construction details and period materials are highlighted, and include the Marston family's public and private rooms. *Only the first floor of the museum is wheelchair accessible.
- All tours require a minimum of 10 people
- Groups of more than 15 will be broken into smaller numbers
- Must be reserved at least one week in advance
- Must be paid for at time reservation is made
- Cancellations must be made at least 12 hours in advance for refund
- Allow 60 to 90 minutes for your home tour at the Marston House, and allow for extra time if you wish to view the public gardens as well
- Tour starts at the Marston House Museum Shop in the carriage house
Adults
Senior Citizens
Reserve your date and purchase Architectural Details of Master Architects Hebbard & Gill Tour tickets
Private VIP Tours
Private, after-hours docent-led tours of the Marston House Museum are available Monday through Friday, between the hours of 10am and 4pm.
Our private, after-hours tour provides an intimate opportunity to explore the 8,500-square-foot Marston House, allowing for a rare glimpse into the lifestyle of one of San Diego's most prominent and progressive families. Learn about the family, and the master architects and landscape designers who worked with them to create one of the region's most important estates. Trained and very knowledgeable docents lead this 60-minute guided tour. The extensive grounds can be explored at your leisure before or after your tour. *Only the first floor of the museum is wheelchair accessible.
- Two-person minimum is required for a private after-hours tour
- Must be reserved at least one week in advance
- Must be paid for at the time reservation is made
- Cancellations must be made at least 12 hours in advance for refund
- Allow 60 to 90 minutes for your home tour at the Marston House, to include the use of restroom facilities, and allow extra time if you wish to view the public gardens as well
- Your tour guide will meet you at the front door of the museum at your appointed tour time
$30 per person
Reserve your date and purchase Private VIP Tour tickets
Car Club Package
Elevate your group outing with our specially designed Car Club Package, combining history, camaraderie, and exclusive perks for your club.
Drive your passion for antique automobiles to the stunning Marston House Museum & Gardens, an Arts and Crafts gem nestled in the heart of San Diego. Built in 1905, this historic home showcases timeless architecture, beautifully landscaped gardens, and fascinating stories of the city’s past. It’s the perfect destination for antique car enthusiasts to blend their love for classic vehicles with San Diego’s rich heritage.
- Ten-person minimum is required for the Car Club Package
- Must be reserved at least two weeks in advance
- Must be paid for at the time reservation is made
- Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance for refund
What’s Included
- Private Docent-Led Tour
Explore the Marston House with an expert guide who will share the stories of this historic treasure designed by Irving Gill, and learn about its architectural significance and the pivotal role the Marston family played in San Diego’s history.
- 10% Museum Shop Discount
All attendees enjoy exclusive savings on unique gifts, books, and Arts and Crafts-inspired keepsakes.
- Reserved Picnic Space
A dedicated area on the house terrace for your group to relax and enjoy a brown bag lunch (BYO).
- Showcase Parking
Ample space to park and display your antique cars in a picturesque setting.
Capture the Moment
Make your visit unforgettable with photo opportunities
- Line up your cars in front of the historic Marston House for a stunning group shot.
- Snap keepsake photos of your club with the house or gardens as the backdrop.
- Weekday availability ensures a serene and crowd-free experience.
$35 per person
Reserve your date and purchase Car Club Package tickets
Don’t miss this opportunity to combine your appreciation for classic cars with a journey into San Diego’s architectural and cultural history. Rally your club for a day of discovery, community, and shared enthusiasm at the Marston House Museum & Gardens!
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MARSTON HOUSE MUSEUM & GARDENS
3525 Seventh Avenue, San Diego 92103
(619) 297-9327
Tours
Third Sunday Tours
Hours of Operations · Admission
Directions & Parking
Group Tours
School Group Tours (K-12)
Museum Shop
Film & Photography Permits
Wedding & Venue Rental
The Marstons: A California Story
History Series
Exhibits
Online Exhibits
Online Jigsaw Puzzles
Coloring Pages
Read more about the Marston House
In the News
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