Compiled from publicly available information · Listing last updated September 2026 · Not yet confirmed by venue
The Howe-Waffle House and Medical Museum is a restored 1889 Queen Anne Victorian home in Santa Ana, California, operated by the all-volunteer Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society. It served as the home and medical office of Dr. Willella Howe-Waffle, one of Orange County’s first female physicians, and today operates as both a house museum and medical museum featuring authentic turn-of-the-century equipment, period furnishings, and displays of surgical instruments. The museum is open for tours on select dates and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as a California Historic Point of Interest, and on the City of Santa Ana’s Historic Register.
As a two-and-a-half-story Victorian structure with a carved staircase and multiple floors, the historic nature of the building presents inherent physical access challenges. Visitors with specific accessibility needs are advised to contact the museum in advance.
Visitors report that metered street parking is available nearby and that the house is relatively small, with tours typically lasting around 15 minutes. Some visitors note the multi-story layout and Victorian-era construction, and third-party travel sources flag that accessibility in a historic home setting can be a challenge, recommending advance contact for any accommodation needs.
As a historic two-and-a-half-story Victorian structure, accessibility for visitors with mobility issues can be a challenge.