La Mesa History Center
The 20th Annual Historic Home Tour
ARTISTS & OFFICERS featuring Platinum Properties of Grossmont Colony & Mt. Helix
Saturday, November 7, 2026
- 20
- years running
- 6
- homes featured last year
- 600+
- visitors last year
- Sold out
- within weeks
- 100%
- of proceeds support preservation
One Remarkable Day to Experience La Mesa’s Heritage of Historic Homes
Join In Another Year of Sharing and Honoring More Platinum Properties
This year the History Center presents its Platinum event: “Artists and Officers”, featuring classic homes, landscapes and artisanship in the Grossmont Colony and Mt. Helix communities.
Once again ticket holders will experience some of Greater La Mesa’s most historic, beautiful, and preserved homes and properties including this 1936 landmark property.
This year’s ticket holders will experience the works of noted architects such as Emmor Brooke Weaver and Lillian Rice along with the homes of notable Grossmont Colony pioneering “artist” residents such as poet John Vance Chaney, concert violinist Beulah Lewis, painter Valencia Rafferty McCleave and community namesake actor/theater agent William B. Gross. The homes also feature beautiful gardens and landscapes as well as the works of local artist/craftspersons such as James Hubbell, Wayne Chapman, Anne Meek, Lynn Reeves and Mic Mead. Several homes also feature our area’s connection to regional military heritage including homes of Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II veteran officers who made their homes here locally.
Every ticket and every sponsorship supports the La Mesa History Center’s educational programs, including the McKinney House Museum, Research Archives and our promotion of historic preservation.
Learn more about the Home Tour
Information:
- How to get to the homes?
- Continuously running air-conditioned shuttles are included with admission and will provide access to the homes.
- Due to narrow streets and minimal parking at the homes, no personal vehicles can be allowed on the Home Tour.
- Where is the shuttle check-in location?
- Grossmont High School Parking Lot
1100 Murray Drive, El Cajon, CA 92020
- Grossmont High School Parking Lot
- Is the tour accessible?
- The Home Tour is not ADA accessible, and guests will be required to walk up and down lengthy driveways and staircases to access several homes.
- What are the rules on photography?
- Please be respectful of the wishes of our homeowners, and refrain from taking photographs of the interiors unless given permission.
- How long does the tour take?
- It will take approximately 3 hours to explore and enjoy all of the homes and gardens on the tour, so we recommend starting no later than 12 noon. But you are free to spend as much or as little time at each home as you prefer, before you board the shuttle to the next home.
- Is bottled water available on the tour?
- We encourage everyone to bring a reusable water bottle, and to fill it up before the tour starts at the water station at the Grossmont High School Parking Lot check-in provided by our friends from Helix Water.
- Who benefits from the ticket revenues?
- All proceeds go to the La Mesa History Center, a private non-profit 501c(3) corporation, charged with preserving and educating the community on the fascinating history of the Greater La Mesa area.
- How to get tickets?
- Purchase them online. All tickets are emailed in advance of the tour and contain a QR code. Print or bring them on your phone to save time at check-in, where you will exchange your ticket receipt for a wristband. All sales are final, but purchased tickets can be transferred.
- What happens on Friday night before the tour?
- La Mesa History Center offers a limited number of tickets for a Friday Night Pre-Tour and Reception — November 6th, 5:30-9:00PM
- This is a chance to meet and thank the homeowners and get a guided tour of the tour properties with historian Jim Newland.
- Logistical details will be provided to ticket purchasers nearer the date.
With gratitude
2026 Home Tour Sponsors
Our sponsors help make this year’s Home Tour possible and support the preservation of La Mesa’s history.
The 20th Annual Home Tour
Saturday, November 7, 2026