About the Doctors House Museum

The Doctors House Museum is an authentically restored Queen Anne-Eastlake style home built around 1888. The two story house originally stood at 921 East Wilson Avenue in Central Glendale. Four early physicians owned it in succession, giving the house its name. It was later occupied by silent screen icon Nell Shipman. Threatened with demolition in 1979, community activists organized to save it and formally incorporated The Glendale Historical Society on October 24, 1979.

On your visit to the house you will view a fascinating pictorial exhibit about moving of the house in two pieces to Brand Park and the subsequent restoration and authentic Victorian Era decoration accomplished by the founding members of TGHS in 1979-1980. You can also view an exhibit about silent film star and house resident Nell Shipman. Enjoy!

Plan Your Visit to the Doctors House Museum
Please read about Days/Hours of Operation and important contact information:

The House is open for tours every Sunday* from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (the last tour starts at 3:40 pm), with the following exceptions:

*SPECIAL HOLIDAY CLOSURES: New Years Day, Easter, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, and Christmas. The house is closed during the entire month of July for maintenance.

*WEATHER-RELATED CLOSURES: The house will also be closed on very rainy days. Check back to this website for updates, although short-notice closures may not get posted in time.

Regular Admission fee: Donations are accepted to help us maintain the home. A minimum donation of $2.00 is recommended for persons over the age of 16. Admission is always free for Glendale Historical Society members.

Specially scheduled group tours of the Doctors House:

Special group tours can be arranged for a minimum of 20 people on other days of the week. Please contact the City of Glendale Community Services and Parks at (818) 548-2147.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT PRIVATE FUNCTIONS: If you want to plan a weddings or other private function or party on the Doctors House grounds, gazebo, or any other city owned historic building, please download this parks brochure and contact the city directly.
DO NOT CONTACT THE GLENDALE HISTORICAL SOCIETY about private functions - we cannot help you with those. Private party rentals are handled only by the City of Glendale Comunity Services and Parks. Contact number is (818) 548- 2184. NOTE: There are no private events of any type allowed inside the Doctors House.

Photo shoots and filming require permission:
Contact City of Glendale Community Services and Parks at (818) 548-3782.

Volunteer Docent Opportunities

Volunteer docents give tours of The Doctors House. They receive training from TGHS and commit to at least two volunteer hours per month to give tours. For information about becoming a docent, leave a message for the Doctors House Director at (818) 242-7447. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT TGHS ABOUT WEDDINGS, PRIVATE EVENTS, AND PHOTO SHOOTS. See info above.

Glendale, A Pictorial History, Centennial Edition, by Katherine Peters Yamada.

TGHS's pictorial history of Glendale may be purchased at the Doctors House during open hours. You may also visit Once Upon A Time Bookstore in the Montrose Shopping Park to purchase this book.

Directions to the House

The Doctors House is located in Brand Park, 1601 West Mountain Avenue, Glendale, California, 91201. Take the #5 (Golden State) Freeway or Glenoaks Boulevard to Western Avenue. Proceed north on Western, which leads into the park. As you approach Brand Park, signs along the way will guide you to the parking area and to the House. MAP

Nell Shipman

Between 1917 to 1920, The Doctors House was the home of Nell Shipman, the multi-talented pioneer of the silent screen. In addition to being a major film star of her era, she was also an animal trainer, stunt woman, and writer/director/producer of several films.
A permanent exhibit about Nell Shipman can be found on the second floor of the house. Learn more about her at these websites:

The Nell Shipman Photo Collection Online: Boise State University

Naked Eye Productions

The Nell Shipman Website (Professor Kay Armatage, Univ. of Toronto)

The Nell Shipman Silent Film Festival a Boise State University

Papers of Tom Trusky relating to Nell Shipman (Boise State University, Albertsons Library)