FOR-PROFIT OPERATOR PICKED FOR HISTORIC SITE

Old Town Trolley Tours in talks with county to run landmark Whaley House

Management of the historic Whaley House in Old Town San Diego may soon shift away from a nonprofit historical preservation group to a private national company focused on tourism.

County officials are negotiating a lease agreement for the 163-yearold house with Old Town Trolley Tours, which was chosen in a recent “request for proposals” competition over incumbent operator Save Our Heritage Organisation.

SOHO, which has run the Whaley House for the last 20 years, is criticizing the county's decision as motivated by money. The nonprofit group contends it successfully transformed a dilapidated resource into a vibrant attraction.

“SOHO is proud of what we have accomplished at the museum, related buildings, and park grounds during the past 20 years,” the group said in a statement. “Under our care, the 1857 Whaley House has become a community resource and source of cultural pride that San Diegans claim as their own.”

SOHO also said its proposal effectively addressed all aspects of museum operation and historic stewardship, prompting the conclusion that the county based its decision “heavily on financial return.”

A county spokeswoman said this week that the decision was based on the request for proposals including new responsibilities for the operator, including generating more tourist visits and enhancing appreciation of the Whaley House.

“Generating more visits to and appreciation of this historic resource is an ongoing priority for the county,” said the spokeswoman, Donna Durckel.

SOHO estimates the Whaley House, a California historic land