Villa Montezuma Introductory Video by the FOVM and City TV (Click above to see the 9-minute introduction to the museum, created by the FOVM and City TV.)

The Friends of the Villa Montezuma, Inc. (FOVM) is a 501-c-3 organization solely devoted to the magnificent Villa Montezuma, San Diego’s amazing Queen Anne Victorian house museum and cultural center. Th e Villa is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum is owned by the City of San Diego.

Tours are on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 1:00, 2:15, and 3:30 p.m. (details below).

Cinballera Salon presentes Opera at the Villa (“Songs of Spring”) on Monday,     April 15, 2024, 7:00-9:00 pm: The talented artists of Cinballera (who love cinema, ballet and opera) return to the Villa Montezuma for an evening of songs about Spring! What is unique about this event: the singers explain what the song is about, the context of the song in the opera it appeared in, and interesting history and background to make the song understandable to all. No subtitles needed! This is a marvelous introduction to opera for those who want to be in a more personal setting. Open seating in the gorgeous Music Room is limited to 30 guests. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., performances from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person, available through the Cinballera website, or contact admin@cinballera.org to reserve and pay in cash at the door. After we pay the pianist the proceeds are shared between the two nonprofit organizations. Guests received a voucher to return to see the entire museum and the Marty O exhibit! Free street parking in this residential neighborhood.

Art Show: “A Splendid Decennium: Victorian to Vanguard, the Art of MartyO” on view through April 27, 2024.

Join the Villa Montezuma Museum, the Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House, and internationally acclaimed fiber artist Marty Ornish for this solo retrospective exhibition. For the first time these two venerable treasures in the Sherman Heights Historic District and the Historic Gaslamp Quarter will unite, simultaneously showcasing Marty’s distinctive wearable art, art quilts, and other assemblages.

What will you see? Stunning wearable art and sculptures made from quilts and other well worn and rescued materials, creatively and imaginatively reused to create works of beauty. There are numerous works throughout both museums. At the Villa Montezuma Museum guests will get both the historic house tour and an understanding of Marty’s “Splendid Decennium” within a one-hour guided tour. Longer group tours can be arranged for groups with special interests in textiles. There will also be special talks and workshops throughout the show run.

Regular admission applies at each museum. Gaslamp Foundation members get complimentary admission to the Villa Montezuma. FOVM members get complimentary admission to the Davis-Horton House. The exhibit will be on view at both historic house museums though April 27, 2024.

SPECIAL EVENTS AND LECTURES:

These events can be booked through the Gaslamp Foundation website below (there is a small fee to participate). All events are 10:30 a.m. to noon.

April 20 at the Villa: “Bustle Up!” Love Victorian bustled clothing? Learn to sew your own bum roll.

April 27 at the Gaslamp Museum: “Fashion Dangers: From Victorian to Vanguard” - a lecture by MartyO.

See this website for times for the Davis-Horton House or to book your space at the special events: www.GaslampFoundation.org. Please scroll down PAST the event time booking block to see the event days and times for you to enter into the ticket reservation system.

See this website for more about MartyO: www.Marty-O.com.

Thank you for supporting art, music, and literature at the Villa Montezuma Museum!

50 Years as a Museum: In November 1972 the Villa Montezuma Museum opened to the public. We are honored to share this magnificent museum with you!

Thank You to former State Senator Ben Hueso: Thanks to his leadership, the State of California has allocated $5,000,000 for the restoration of the magnificent Villa Montezuma Museum. The funds will go to the owner of the Villa, the City of San Diego. The FOVM looks forward to working with the City to make the Villa’s exterior gorgeous again. We hope restoration can begin around summer 2024.

VILLA MONTEZUMA MUSEUM TOUR DETAILS: You can see the entire magnificent, mysterious Villa Montezuma Museum! Tours are on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tour times are at 1:00, 2:15, and 3:30 p.m. All tours are guided. Regular admission costs per person:

1. -Adults: $15
   

2. -Active Duty Military, Seniors 65+, and students with ID: $12
   

3. -Children 12 and under: free with a paid adult
   

4. -Group rates for groups of eight or more adults: $10
   

School groups: contact us for special education rates

Your admission fee helps us cover the costs of maintenance and create events at the Villa Montezuma Museum!

Reserve your spot now!

1) Please reserve your time slot via texting us at 619-233-8833.

2) Museum location: 1925 K Street, corner of 20th & K, in the Sherman Heights Historic District of San Diego, just east of downtown and the East Village. There is plenty of no-cost parking near the Villa in the neighborhood in the daytime.

3) Please bring cash to pay for your admission. Please, no bills over $20. We don’t take credit cards or other forms of payment.

There is no eating, drinking, or photography/recording allowed inside this historic site. Please, no sharp heels to protect the historic floors. Any strollers or rolling suitcases or large bags of any kind will need to remain in the front lobby.

We’re not haunted, we’re enchanted! We’re a beautiful historic site. We do not do paranormal investigations. We do partner with the Haunted San Diego Tours to share some of the real history of the mysterious Mr. Jesse Shepard!

One Man, Two Names

The Villa Montezuma is the Historic Jesse Shepard/”Francis Grierson” House. It was built in 1887 as the home of world famous pianist, author, and Spiritualist Jesse Shepard. Jesse began a writing career in San Diego and took the pen name “Francis Grierson,” a name that he used in life as well as for his writing. The Villa is located in the Sherman Heights Historic District of downtown San Diego, CA, at the corner of 20th & K Streets. The Sherman Heights Historic District is the largest historic district within San Diego; it has almost 400 contributing historic structures. Learn more by scheduling a walking tour for your group of 10 or more guests.

Ongoing Restoration

Thank you to our former State Senator Ben Hueso for getting restoration funding for the City of San Diego in the FY23 State budget. The City hopes to get the State funding to begin restoration in 2024. Your museum admission fee helps the Friends of the Villa Montezuma produce educational events and achieve our maintenance goals.

You’re invited to join the FOVM to make a difference in the Villa’s future.

The FOVM mailing address (NOT THE LOCATION OF THE MUSEUM):

FOVM, Inc.

657 20th Street

San Diego, CA 92102-2810

PHYSICAL location of the museum (do not mail to the museum):

corner of 20th & K Streets (for GPS, use 1925 K Street)

Sherman Heights Historic District

San Diego, CA 92102

Questions? Text us or call us: 619-233-8833.