Walk into Magee Park, and you’ll find yourself stepping back to the earliest days of Carlsbad.

Surrounded by rose gardens and historic buildings sits the Magee House, one of the city’s oldest surviving residences. More than a beautiful historic home, it represents the vision of the pioneers who transformed a quiet stretch of coastline into the community we know today.

For visitors, the Magee House offers something rare—a chance to experience everyday life as it looked in Carlsbad more than 135 years ago.

The Home of a Founder

The Magee House was originally built in 1887 by Samuel Church Smith, one of the founders of the Carlsbad Land & Mineral Water Company. Alongside Gerhard Schutte and D.D. Wadsworth, Smith helped develop the new town after the discovery of Carlsbad’s famous mineral water. Their vision was to create a community of small farms, gracious homes, and healthy living near the Pacific Ocean.

While Schutte built the grand home now known as Twin Inns, Smith chose a more modest residence that reflected the quiet lifestyle of early Carlsbad.

From the Smith Family to the Magee Family

Over time, the home became associated with the Shipley family, another important pioneer family in Carlsbad. Florence Shipley Magee eventually inherited the property, and in a remarkable act of generosity, she donated the home and surrounding land to the City of Carlsbad.

Today, the park that surrounds the home proudly bears her family name—Magee Park—ensuring that future generations could enjoy and learn from this important piece of local history.

Preserving Carlsbad’s Past

The Magee House has been carefully restored and is now operated by the Carlsbad Historical Society, which uses the home to preserve photographs, documents, artifacts, and stories from Carlsbad’s early years. The interior is furnished in a turn-of-the-century style, allowing visitors to imagine what daily life was like for one of the town’s founding families.

Nearby you’ll also find:

• Heritage Hall
• The Granary
• Historic Rose Gardens
• Shipley Barn
• Twin Inns Gazebo

Together these buildings create one of the finest collections of preserved historic structures in North County San Diego.

More Than a Historic House

The Magee House reminds us that Carlsbad wasn’t built overnight.

It grew because a handful of visionary families believed this beautiful stretch of coastline could become something extraordinary.

Their homes weren’t simply places to live—they were places where ideas were shared, businesses were planned, and a new community began to take shape.

More than a century later, that vision continues to inspire everyone who visits Carlsbad.

If These Walls Could Talk…

“I’ve watched horse-drawn wagons become automobiles, dusty roads become tree-lined streets, and a tiny settlement become a thriving coastal city. I’ve welcomed generations of families through my front door, and although the world outside has changed, my purpose remains the same—to help people remember where Carlsbad began.”

Cherimarie’s Reflection

One of the things I love most about taking guests through Carlsbad Village is showing them that history isn’t hidden away—it’s all around us.

The Magee House is easy to overlook if you don’t know its story. But once you step inside, you realize this isn’t just an old house. It’s the home of people who dreamed about what Carlsbad could become.

Every time I visit Magee Park, I’m reminded that preserving these places helps us stay connected to the people who built our community. That’s what makes Carlsbad feel so special.

Did You Know?

• The Magee House was built in 1887, making it one of Carlsbad’s oldest surviving homes.
• Samuel Church Smith was one of the founders of the Carlsbad Land & Mineral Water Company.
• The house now serves as the headquarters and archives of the Carlsbad Historical Society.
• Magee Park also includes Heritage Hall, the Granary, historic gardens, and other preserved buildings that tell Carlsbad’s story.

Explore More Carlsbad Stories

Continue exploring Carlsbad’s rich history:

• Captain John A. Frazier and the Mineral Water Discovery
• Gerhard Schutte
• D.D. Wadsworth
• The Carlsbad Land & Mineral Water Company
• Twin Inns
• The Original Carlsbad Hotel
• The Carlsbad Mineral Spa Hotel
• Historic Railroad Depot
• Historic Highway 101
• Albert Cohn House
• Carlsbad Village
• Carlsbad Food Tours