The Magee House

Overview

The craftsman-style Magee House was originally built by Samuel Church Smith (one of the founders of Carlsbad Land and Water Company) in 1887 and is now home to the Carlsbad Historical Society and its archives. The house is furnished in a turn-of-the-century style reflecting thel life of the early Carlsbad settlers who once owned the house. The historical gardens feature a nationally registered Rose Garden that earned Carlsbed the covet American Rose Society's "An American Rose City" in 2002.

About the Rose Gardens:

The historical gardens reflect Carlsbad’s agricultural heritage, and feature a nationally-registered rose garden. Separated into several rose beds, visitors will find over 125 different roses that represent 15 different rose families. In addition the gardens include a Victorian herb bed, a native southern Californian bed, a Carlsbad commercial growers’ bed and a patriotic “red, white and blue” bed. All of the gardens are maintained through the combined volunteer efforts of the Arboretum Society, the Carlsbad Historical Society and the California Coastal Rose Society, as well as city staff.

The Magee House is a worthwhile stop on Historical Highway 101 for anyone interested in history and plants.