Colorado House

About this museum

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park sits on the site where European settlement in California effectively began, and Colorado House occupies a notable place within that foundational landscape. The building reconstructs one of Old Town's most storied commercial structures from the mid - nineteenth century - a two - story New England - style building that served various commercial functions in the years when San Diego was transitioning from a Mexican pueblo to an American city, and when the consequences of that transition were being worked out in real time by people of vastly different origins and circumstances.The Colorado House site, at 2733 San Diego Avenue, is part of the California State Parks network that manages the Old Town district, which means it benefits from the interpretive infrastructure and preservation standards of a well - resourced state agency. The broader park context matters here: Colorado House makes most sense understood within the fabric of Old Town's reconstructed and original structures, which together tell the story of early California in concentrated form.Old Town San Diego is one of the state's most visited heritage sites, and the density of historical material within walking distance of Colorado House makes any visit to the building naturally expansive. The surrounding park includes dozens of historic structures, costumed interpreters on busy days, and a collection of museums and galleries that together constitute one of California's most comprehensive windows onto the Mexican and early American eras.Admission to Colorado House and the broader Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is free, consistent with the California State Parks mission of public access to the state's heritage. The site is located at 2733 San Diego Avenue in San Diego, and more information is available through the California State Parks website at parks.ca.gov. Old Town is easily accessible from downtown San Diego by the Mission Valley trolley line.