George W. Marston House
Encyclopedia
The George W. Marston House, or George Marston House and Gardens, also referred to as the George and Anna Marston House or the Marston House, is a museum and historic landmark located in San Diego and currently maintained by Save Our Heritage Organisation
(SOHO).
, San Diego, California
. The home spans 8500 square feet (789.7 m²) and is surrounded by five acres of lawns and gardens. Completed in 1905, the house is considered a prime example of architecture from the Arts and Crafts Movement
. Home to George White Marston (1850–1946) and his wife, Anna Gunn Marston (1853–1940), the three-story house and gardens were a lively family home, where two of the five Marston children were married and the eldest lived out her life. The house was designed and built by renowned architects William Sterling Hebbard and Irving Gill
. Inside the house, the rooms are furnished with a variety of different pieces designed by renowned Gustav Stickley
, L. & J.G. Stickley, and Charles Limbert
. Other notable furnishings are the Gill
, Mead & Requa furniture and the plein air art exhibit featuring paintings by artists Alfred Mitchell, Maurice Braun
and Charles Frie. Many of the families original items are still on display at the museum.
According to the Marston House general release, "the family lived on two floors plus an attic. On the first floor, redwood-paneled rooms unfold off a wide hallway, which narrows to include a bench built into the staircase. The living room and adjoining oak-paneled dining room open onto the south terrace and overlook the lawn and canyon. Including the second floor’s north wing, the house has six bedrooms, a sleeping porch and four baths."
The George W. Marston House was converted into a museum in 1987 after the Marston family gifted the house to the City of San Diego. It is currently maintained by Save Our Heritage Organisation
(SOHO) who run the museum and the shop that is located in the carriage house on the property.
and redesigned in 1928 by landscape architect, John Nolen
for the Marstons’ 50th wedding anniversary. The garden spans over five acres and is filled with trees and flowers of all varieties. As well as their architects and San Diegan nurserymen the Marston's acquired plants and landscaping ideas from their friend and famous horticulturist, Kate Sessions
. Some of the plants found in the garden, when at its prime were Canary Island Pine
s, Eucalyptus
trees, strawberry tree
s, wild lilac
s, forget-me-not
s, as well as Virginia creeper vine. The Canary Island Pine
s are still thriving and Save Our Heritage Organisation
plan to replace the other flowers in the garden as soon as possible. The geranium, a flower considered to represent the legacy of George Marson and the Marston House is another flower that makes an appearance in the garden.
is most well known for being a prominent civic leader and founder of the San Diego Historical Society whose interest and work in historic preservation
, and conservation is renowned although he is also known for being a department store owner.
He owned the Marston department store, created after he split the store business with his partner Hamilton; Hamilton taking the grocery side of the firm and Marston taking the dry goods departments. The Marston Company became the only major department store in San Diego, and was located downtown. Its success was due to exclusive business arrangements Marston made with several suppliers. He became quite wealthy and was a generous philanthropist in the city. The Marston department store, at 5th Avenue and C Street, was owned by the family until they sold it in 1961 to The Broadway Stores. It has since closed.
Save Our Heritage Organisation
Founded in 1969, Save Our Heritage Organisation is a non-profit organization devoted to the preservation of the historic architecture and landmarks around the San Diego, California area. Currently Save Our Heritage Organisation maintains several historic buildings including the Whaley House and...
(SOHO).
The House
The George W. Marston House is located in Balboa ParkBalboa Park (San Diego)
Balboa Park is a urban cultural park in San Diego, California. The park is named after the Spanish maritime explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa...
, San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. The home spans 8500 square feet (789.7 m²) and is surrounded by five acres of lawns and gardens. Completed in 1905, the house is considered a prime example of architecture from the Arts and Crafts Movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
. Home to George White Marston (1850–1946) and his wife, Anna Gunn Marston (1853–1940), the three-story house and gardens were a lively family home, where two of the five Marston children were married and the eldest lived out her life. The house was designed and built by renowned architects William Sterling Hebbard and Irving Gill
Irving Gill
Irving John Gill , American architect, is considered a pioneer of the modern movement in architecture. He designed several buildings considered examples of San Diego's best architecture.-Biography:...
. Inside the house, the rooms are furnished with a variety of different pieces designed by renowned Gustav Stickley
Gustav Stickley
Gustav Stickley was a manufacturer of furniture and the leading proselytizer for the American Arts and Crafts movement, an extension of the British Arts and Crafts movement.-Biography:...
, L. & J.G. Stickley, and Charles Limbert
Charles Limbert
Charles P. Limbert was founder of the Limbert Furniture Company and a contemporary of Gustav Stickley, although the two most likely didn't know each other....
. Other notable furnishings are the Gill
Irving Gill
Irving John Gill , American architect, is considered a pioneer of the modern movement in architecture. He designed several buildings considered examples of San Diego's best architecture.-Biography:...
, Mead & Requa furniture and the plein air art exhibit featuring paintings by artists Alfred Mitchell, Maurice Braun
Maurice Braun
Maurice Braun was an American artist who became known for Impressionist landscapes of southern California. He was born in Hungary on October 1, 1877, however by the age of four young Maurice and the Braun family had migrated to the United States and settled in New York City...
and Charles Frie. Many of the families original items are still on display at the museum.
According to the Marston House general release, "the family lived on two floors plus an attic. On the first floor, redwood-paneled rooms unfold off a wide hallway, which narrows to include a bench built into the staircase. The living room and adjoining oak-paneled dining room open onto the south terrace and overlook the lawn and canyon. Including the second floor’s north wing, the house has six bedrooms, a sleeping porch and four baths."
The George W. Marston House was converted into a museum in 1987 after the Marston family gifted the house to the City of San Diego. It is currently maintained by Save Our Heritage Organisation
Save Our Heritage Organisation
Founded in 1969, Save Our Heritage Organisation is a non-profit organization devoted to the preservation of the historic architecture and landmarks around the San Diego, California area. Currently Save Our Heritage Organisation maintains several historic buildings including the Whaley House and...
(SOHO) who run the museum and the shop that is located in the carriage house on the property.
The Gardens
The Formal Garden was designed by George CookeGeorge Cooke
George Cooke may refer to:* Sir George Cooke, 3rd Baronet , British MP for Aldborough 1698–1700* George Cooke , Members of the South Australian House of Assembly, 1930–1933 for Barossa...
and redesigned in 1928 by landscape architect, John Nolen
John Nolen
John Nolen was an American landscape architect. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, John Nolen was orphaned as a child and placed in the Girard School for Orphaned Boys by the Children's Aid Society...
for the Marstons’ 50th wedding anniversary. The garden spans over five acres and is filled with trees and flowers of all varieties. As well as their architects and San Diegan nurserymen the Marston's acquired plants and landscaping ideas from their friend and famous horticulturist, Kate Sessions
Kate Sessions
Katherine Olivia "Kate" Sessions was an American botanist, horticulturalist, and landscape architect closely associated with San Diego, California, and known as the "Mother of Balboa Park."-Early life:...
. Some of the plants found in the garden, when at its prime were Canary Island Pine
Canary Island Pine
Pinus canariensis, the Canary Island Pine, is a species in the genus Pinus, family Pinaceae, native and endemic to the outer Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a subtropical pine and does not tolerate low temperatures or hard frost, surviving temperatures down to about −6 to...
s, Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
trees, strawberry tree
Strawberry Tree
Arbutus unedo, commonly called Strawberry Tree, Apple of Cain, or Cane Apple, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae, native to the Mediterranean region and western Europe north to western France and Ireland...
s, wild lilac
Lilac
Syringa is a genus of about 20–25 species of flowering woody plants in the olive family , native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia, and widely and commonly cultivated in temperate areas elsewhere....
s, forget-me-not
Forget-me-not
Myosotis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae that are commonly called Forget-me-nots. Its common name was calqued from the French, "ne m'oubliez pas" and first used in English in c. 1532. Similar names and variations are found in many languages.-Description:There are...
s, as well as Virginia creeper vine. The Canary Island Pine
Canary Island Pine
Pinus canariensis, the Canary Island Pine, is a species in the genus Pinus, family Pinaceae, native and endemic to the outer Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a subtropical pine and does not tolerate low temperatures or hard frost, surviving temperatures down to about −6 to...
s are still thriving and Save Our Heritage Organisation
Save Our Heritage Organisation
Founded in 1969, Save Our Heritage Organisation is a non-profit organization devoted to the preservation of the historic architecture and landmarks around the San Diego, California area. Currently Save Our Heritage Organisation maintains several historic buildings including the Whaley House and...
plan to replace the other flowers in the garden as soon as possible. The geranium, a flower considered to represent the legacy of George Marson and the Marston House is another flower that makes an appearance in the garden.
George Marston
George MarstonGeorge Marston
George White Marston was an American politician, department store owner, and philanthropist. Marston was involved with establishing Balboa Park, the San Diego Public Library System, and the Serra Museum...
is most well known for being a prominent civic leader and founder of the San Diego Historical Society whose interest and work in historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
, and conservation is renowned although he is also known for being a department store owner.
He owned the Marston department store, created after he split the store business with his partner Hamilton; Hamilton taking the grocery side of the firm and Marston taking the dry goods departments. The Marston Company became the only major department store in San Diego, and was located downtown. Its success was due to exclusive business arrangements Marston made with several suppliers. He became quite wealthy and was a generous philanthropist in the city. The Marston department store, at 5th Avenue and C Street, was owned by the family until they sold it in 1961 to The Broadway Stores. It has since closed.
See also
- George MarstonGeorge MarstonGeorge White Marston was an American politician, department store owner, and philanthropist. Marston was involved with establishing Balboa Park, the San Diego Public Library System, and the Serra Museum...
- Save Our Heritage OrganisationSave Our Heritage OrganisationFounded in 1969, Save Our Heritage Organisation is a non-profit organization devoted to the preservation of the historic architecture and landmarks around the San Diego, California area. Currently Save Our Heritage Organisation maintains several historic buildings including the Whaley House and...
- The Whaley House