McCoy House Museum, San Diego

Originally built in 1869 by Irish-born Sheriff James McCoy as a wedding gift to his wife, Winifred, this was once arguably the most stately home in the Old Town neighborhood. Although it fell into severe disrepair in the early 1900s after the deaths of James and Winifred, the wood-framed, Greek Revival-style residence was rebuilt in 2000 to be used as a museum.

The docent-led house tour starts as you enter and walk through a lovely Victorian-style parlor filled with beautiful old furniture, dishes, and paintings hung on walls, where the McCoys might have entertained guests. The next area focuses on historical information regarding the Indian tribes from the area and their unique artifacts. There's also a small section devoted to a brief history about the Spanish explorers, missions, and presidios, while another section discusses the US-Mexican war. A few other interesting little areas are dedicated to The Boston Trader, The Grog Shop, and The Stage Stop.

A visitor can really learn about the area's history in this museum, including its transition from a Mexican pueblo to an American frontier town.