History Park

Last updated
History Park
San Jose Electric Light Tower replica (1).JPG
San Jose Light Tower half-height replica.
History Park
TypeHistorical recreation of early 20th century California
Location635 Senter Road
Kelley Park
Nearest city San Jose
Coordinates 37°19′14″N121°51′28″W / 37.32056°N 121.85778°W / 37.32056; -121.85778
Area14 acres (5.7 ha)
Created1971
Operated byHistory San José
Public transit access VTA Line 73

History Park at Kelley Park in San Jose, California, USA is designed as an indoor/outdoor museum, arranged to appear as a small US town might have in the early 1900s (decade). Since its inauguration in 1971, 32 historic buildings and other landmarks have either been moved from their original San Jose locations or are represented by replicas.

Contents

History San José

History Park at Kelley Park is operated by History San José, which also has its headquarters at History Park. History San José (HSJ) is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was formed from the San José Historical Museum.

HSJ traces its origins back to 1945, when local volunteer Clyde Arbuckle was appointed to the honorary position of San José City Historian; Arbuckle had no formal training, but was well known for his keen interest in local history. In 1949, a temporary replica of the first State House was built in San Jose Civic Plaza to celebrate the centennial of the first Legislature of California. Arbuckle curated a well-received exhibit of local history shown with the State House replica. The replica was moved to the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in 1950 and became the State House Museum, where Arbuckle served as the first curator, collecting local historic artifacts. [1] So much material was donated that an annex, built in 1958 to house additional items, was full by 1962. [2]

The Historical Museum of San José, managed by the city of San Jose, was founded in 1949 simultaneously with the State House centennial activities. [1] In 1965, Theron Fox persuaded the city of San Jose to set aside 16 acres (6.5 ha) at the south end of Kelley Park to house the San José Historical Museum, intended to be a historical reconstruction of a small town, [2] which opened on June 18, 1971. [3] The San Jose Historical Museum Association was also founded in 1971 to administer Historical Museum activities. [2] The architectural firm of Churchill & Zlatunich were retained to develop a master plan for the site by July 1, 1972. [4] By February 1972, the museum was averaging over 1,000 visitors per month; admission prices were modest, at a maximum of $0.25 per adult ($1 for an annual pass). [4]

On February 24, 1977, the half-scale replica of the Electric Light Tower was placed upright, [5] and later that year, on September 25, the first major buildings were dedicated on the site, including the replica Pacific Hotel and historic Umbarger House. [6] By 1980, the Historical Museum had brought onsite the Associated Oil Company Gas Station, Chiechi House, Coyote Post Office, Dashaway Stables, Doctor's Office, Empire Fire House, Print Shop, and Steven's Ranch Fruit Barn, although not all of them were open to the public; admission prices had risen modestly to $0.50 per adult. [2]

The San José Historical Museum was spun off as the History San José nonprofit in 1998. HSJ manages History Park at Kelley Park from the upper floor of the Pacific Hotel in History Park, a replica of a historic hotel originally in downtown San Jose. HSJ is also responsible for the operation of the Peralta Adobe—Fallon House Historic Site and the Collection Center/Research Library & Archives, which are in downtown San Jose and Kelley Park, respectively. [1]

Exhibits

Period exhibits consist mainly of the 32 historical buildings and replica buildings, including a doctor's office, a dentist's office (complete with an old foot-pedal-powered drill), blacksmith shed, a working print shop, the Pacific Hotel, the Empire Fire House, the Bank of Italy, a post office, and a number of houses of early Santa Clara Valley settlers. Some buildings house special interest historical societies and others host galleries. Admission is free, unless there is a special event being held. [7]

On weekdays, tours are offered by paid staff, often for local students on class field trips. On weekends, selected exhibit buildings are staffed on a rotating schedule by volunteers, who also operate a vintage trolley over the length of the park, including under the Light Tower replica.

Buildings

Historical Buildings and Replicas at History Park
NameImagePartnerOriginal locationNotesRef.
Associated Oil Service Station Old Truck and Gas Station in History Park (16682991897).jpg —Market & Julian
San Jose		 Gas station built in 1927 for Associated Oil Company and saved from demolition for Guadalupe Freeway expansion by moving to History Park in July/Aug 1978. Dedicated Sept 9, 1979. [8] [9] [10]
Bank of Italy History Park (4527119462).jpg —(replica)Replica of the San Jose branch of the Bank of Italy, the first branch built outside San Francisco. Bank of Italy was founded by A.P. Giannini, precursor to the Bank of America. [11]
Blacksmith Shed History Park (4527121042).jpg — [12]
Chiechi House History Park (4527101842).jpg —820 Northrup Ave
San Jose		Built originally around 1880; moved to History Park in 1973. [13]
Coyote Post Office Post office at History Park.jpg — Coyote, California in unincorporated Santa Clara County, on Monterey Rd between San Jose and Morgan HillBuilt in 1862; postal service moved out of building in 1973. Building moved to History Park in 1974 and dedicated on Apr 5, 1981. [14] [15]
Dashaway Stables Dashaway Stables in History Park (16864414166).jpg —130 S 2nd St
San Jose		Replica of stables built in 1888 and destroyed in 1928; replica dedicated in 1975. Livery stable is the US term for a business that rented out horse-drawn carriages. [16]
Dr. Warburton's Office—Originally built in 1870s; first building to be relocated to History Park, 1966. [17]
Empire Firehouse Empire Fire House at History Park (16864382856).jpg —76 S Second St
San Jose		Replica of original firehouse built 1869 and destroyed by fire in 1892, dedicated in 1984. [18]
Gordon House History Park (4527114930).jpg Rotary Club of San Jose5303 McKee Rd
San Jose		House built before 1887; moved to History Park in 1986 and currently houses the administrative offices of the Rotary Club of San Jose. [19]
Greenawalt House Viet Museum (4821761850).jpg Museum of the Boat People & the Republic of Vietnam Almaden near US 85
San Jose		Built in 1877 and moved to History Park in 1991. [20]
Hill House Andrew P. Hill house at History Park.jpg —1350 Sherman St
San Jose		Built in 1898; moved to History Park in 1997. [21]
Markham House History Park (4526475557).jpg Poetry Center San Jose432 S Eighth St
San Jose		Built in the 1860s, moved to History Park in 1987. Used as the San Jose Center for Poetry and Literature prior to the move; Poetry Center San Jose returned in 2002. [22]
Migrant Worker Houses—North First St
San Jose		Originally built c.1905–20 for Pratt-Low Preserving Company in Santa Clara and moved to San Jose in 1952; donated to History Park in the 1980s. [23]
Nelson – De Luz House—S 11th & William
San Jose		Built 1905; donated to History Park in 1986. Destroyed in a fire in 2023. [24] [25]
Ng Shing Gung Chinese Historical & Cultural ProjectTaylor & Cleveland
San Jose		Replica of "Temple of Five Gods" building, a former Chinatown religious and community center, built in 1888 and demolished in 1949. Now hosts the Chinese American Historical Museum. [26]
Pacific Hotel Pacific Hotel at History Park (16889285391).jpg —74–80 S Market St
San Jose		Replica of original hotel built in 1880; dedicated in 1977 and serves as Historical Museum headquarters. Main floor has a candy and ice cream shop and an exhibit gallery. [27]
Pasetta House—Houses the Leonard and David McKay Gallery. [28]
Paulson House History Park (4526492353).jpg California Pioneers of Santa Clara CountyDowntown San JoseBuilt in the 1890s and moved to History Park in 1986, displaced by Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose. Queen Anne-style residence with local history exhibits from the California Pioneers of Santa Clara County. [29]
Portuguese Historical Museum at the Imperio PortugueseHistoricalMuseum-cropped.jpg Portuguese Heritage Society of CaliforniaE Santa Clara St & US 101
San Jose		Replica of the first permanent imperio built in San Jose (1915), dedicated 1997. [30]
Print Shop History Park (4526489917).jpg Printers' Guild91 N San Pedro St
San Jose		Residence, built in 1884; moved to History Park in 1972 and remodeled into a print shop. [31]
Santa Ana One-Room Schoolhouse History Park (4527106560).jpg Connie L. Lurie College of Education Alumni Association of San Jose State UniversityHollisterOpened at History Park in 1998. A one-room schoolhouse, originally built in 1871 in Hollister, in the Santa Ana Valley in San Benito County. Santa Ana School was used as schoolhouse for grades one through eight from 1872 to 1967. SJSU College of Education Alumni Board raised funds to move the schoolhouse to History Park and renovate it. [32] [33]
Stevens Ranch Fruit Barn History Park (4527116554).jpg 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Coyote Fruit barn (packing shed) built c.1890 and moved to History Park in 1979, displaced by US 101 expansion. The fruit barn not only has many farm implements and devices from the period, but also displays hundreds of photographs documenting the area's development. It also includes a collection of fruit picker wooden "box ends" from the families and companies of fruit growers from the Valley's history. [9] [34]
Trolley Barn History Park Trolley Barn 3447 01.JPG California Trolley and Railroad Corporation (replica)Replica built in 1984. Houses and operates restored antique trolleys, both horse-drawn and electric, and automobiles, both gasoline and battery powered, along with other antique trolleys and cars awaiting restoration. [35]
Umbarger House History Park (4527105484).jpg —2662 S First
San Jose		Built in 1870s; moved to History Park in August 1970. [9] [36]
Zanker House Zanker House in History Park (16704162589).jpg African American Heritage HouseZanker Road
Alviso		Built in 1868; moved to History Park in 1987. Later additions removed during restoration. [37]

Other structures

Exhibits

SP 1215 at History Park Southern Pacific Steam Locomotive -1215 in History Park (16889114382).jpg
SP 1215 at History Park

Other attractions include:

Map

History Park
[Interactive fullscreen map + nearby articles]
Historical and replica structures at History Park at Kelley Park  
  •  Former commercial 
  •  Former residences 
  •  Former public 

1
Associated Oil Service Station
2
Bank of Italy
3
Blacksmith Shed
4
Chiechi House
5
Coyote Post Office
6
Dashaway Stables
7
Dr Warburton's Office
8
Empire Firehouse
9
Gordon House (Rotary Club of San Jose)
10
Greenawalt House (Viet Museum)
11
Hill House
12
Markham House (Poetry Center San Jose)
13
Migrant Worker Houses
14
Nelson–De Luz House
15
Ng Shing Gung (Chinese American Historical Museum)
16
Pacific Hotel (History San Jose)
17
Pasetta House
18
Paulson House (California Pioneers of Santa Clara County)
19
Portuguese Historical Museum at the Imperio
20
Print Shop
21
San Jose electric light tower
22
Santa Ana One Room Schoolhouse
23
Southern Pacific 1215
24
Stevens Ranch Fruit Barn
25
Trolley Barn (California Trolley and Railroad Corporation)
26
Umbarger House
27
Zanker House (African American Heritage House)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Jose, California</span> City in California, United States

San Jose, officially the City of San José, is the largest city in Northern California by both population and area. With a 2022 population of 971,233, it is the most populous city in both the Bay Area and the San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland Combined Statistical Area, which has a 2015 population of 7.7 million and 9.7 million people respectively, the third-most populous city in California after Los Angeles and San Diego, and the 12th-most populous in the United States. Located in the center of the Santa Clara Valley on the southern shore of San Francisco Bay, San Jose covers an area of 179.97 sq mi (466.1 km2). San Jose is the county seat of Santa Clara County and the main component of the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara Metropolitan Statistical Area, with an estimated population of around two million residents in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Clara Valley</span> Valley in Northern California, United States

The Santa Clara Valley is a geologic trough in Northern California that extends 90 miles (140 km) south–southeast from San Francisco to Hollister. The longitudinal valley is bordered on the west by the Santa Cruz Mountains and on the east by the Diablo Range; the two coastal ranges meet south of Hollister. The San Francisco Bay borders the valley to the north, and fills much of the northern third of the valley. The valley floor is an alluvial plain that formed in the graben between the San Andreas Fault to the west and the Hayward and Calaveras faults to the east. Within the valley and surrounding the bay on three sides are the urban communities of San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, and Alameda County, while the narrow southern reaches of the valley extend into rural San Benito County to Hollister. In practical terms, the central portion of the Santa Clara Valley is often considered by itself, contained entirely within Santa Clara County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rose Garden, San Jose</span> Neighborhood of San Jose in Santa Clara, California, United States

Rose Garden, also rendered as Rosegarden, is a historic district of Central San Jose, California, near Downtown San Jose and The Alameda. Rose Garden is a district made up of numerous historic neighborhoods, such as Hanchett Park, primarily characterized by its architecture and numerous cultural institutions, including the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, Rosicrucian Park, which includes the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, and the historic Hoover Theater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portuguese Historical Museum</span>

The Portuguese Historical Museum in San Jose, California, USA opened in 1997 and is a replica of the first permanent império originally built in San Jose's Little Portugal district, c. 1915. It is one of the featured attractions within History Park at Kelley Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelley Park</span>

Kelley Park is a 156-acre (63 ha) city park in San Jose, California, United States.

The San Jose Steam Railroad Museum is a planned railroad museum within Santa Clara County that has been under development by California Trolley and Railroad Corporation since 1992. This project was originally intended to be located at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose, California; however in 2002, the Board of Supervisors voted to rescind support of the proposed railroad museum at that location. Since then, CTRC has been actively working with various public agencies for a suitable alternate site. The proposed location is near downtown San Jose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Almaden</span> Neighborhood of San Jose in Santa Clara, California, United States

New Almaden, known in Spanish as Nueva Almadén, is a historic community and former mercury mine in the Capitancillos Hills of San Jose, California, located at the southwestern point of Almaden Valley in South San Jose. New Almaden is divided into two parts: the mines and much of their immediate surroundings, including historic ghost town settlements in the Capintancillas, which together form the Almaden Quicksilver County Park, and the largely residential historic district surrounding the Casa Grande.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew P. Hill</span> American artist, photographer and conservationist (1853–1922)

Andrew Putnam Hill was a Californian painter and photographer best known for successfully leading an effort from 1899 to 1902 to save a forest of large redwoods in Big Basin, California, as a public park, the first in what became the California State Park System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Pacific 2479</span> Preserved SP P-10 class 4-6-2 locomotive

Southern Pacific 2479 is one of six 4-6-2 heavy "Pacific" type steam locomotives built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1923 for the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP), designated the P-10 class. No. 2479 was retired from service in 1956. The locomotive is currently undergoing restoration to operating condition by the Pacific Locomotive Association at Brightside, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Clara Transit Center</span> Train station in Santa Clara, California, U.S.

Santa Clara Transit Center is a railway station in downtown Santa Clara, California. It is served by Caltrain, Amtrak Capitol Corridor, and Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) trains. It is the planned terminus for the Silicon Valley BART extension into Santa Clara County. The former station building, constructed in 1863 by the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad, is used by the Edward Peterman Museum of Railroad History.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Register of Historic Places listings in Santa Clara County, California</span>

This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Santa Clara County, California, United States. Latitude and longitude coordinates are provided for many National Register properties and districts; these locations may be seen together in an online map.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Trolley and Railroad Corporation</span>

Established in 1982, the California Trolley and Railroad Corporation (CTRC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to preserve rail transportation in the Santa Clara Valley.

Rod Diridon Sr. is an American politician known for his leadership in mass transportation. He served as chair of the California High-Speed Rail Authority from 2001 to 2003. He currently chairs the advisory board of the United States High Speed Rail Association, and he chairs the National Heritage Area Project for Santa Clara County, California. The New York Times calls Diridon "a tireless advocate of public transport for the Bay Area."

Clyde Arbuckle (1903–1998) was an American historian of, and lifelong resident of, San Jose, California. He is the author of Clyde Arbuckle's History of San José. This 500 page book has been extensively referenced by historians.

The following is a timeline of the history of San Jose, California, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Portugal, San Jose</span> Neighborhood of San Jose in Santa Clara, California, United States

Little Portugal is a historic neighborhood of San Jose, California, and historically the center of the local Portuguese-American community. Little Portugal is home to numerous Portuguese businesses, including Adega, numerous Portuguese social clubs, and the Five Wounds Portuguese National Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Jose electric light tower</span>

The San Jose electric light tower, also known as Owen's Electric Tower after its creator and chief booster, was constructed in 1881 at an intersection in downtown San Jose, California, as a "high light" or moonlight tower to light the city using arc lights. A pioneer use of electricity for municipal lighting, it was later strung with incandescent bulbs and was destroyed in a storm in December 1915. A half-size replica stands at History Park at Kelley Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Clara County Fairgrounds</span> Event venue in San Jose, California, U.S.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "History". History San Jose. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "San Jose Historical Museum Association News" (PDF). Vol. 1, no. 1. September 1980. Retrieved 7 January 2019.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  3. ↑ "San Jose Historical Museum Association Newsletter" (PDF). Vol. 1, no. 7. May 1972. Retrieved 7 January 2019.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  4. 1 2 "San Jose Historical Museum Association Newsletter" (PDF). Vol. 1, no. 4. February 1972. Retrieved 7 January 2019.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  5. ↑ "San Jose Historical Museum Association Newsletter" (PDF). March 1977. Retrieved 7 January 2019.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  6. ↑ "San Jose Historical Museum Association Newsletter" (PDF). Vol. 1, no. 1. September 1977. Retrieved 7 January 2019.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  7. ↑ Hill, Angela (September 14, 2016). "San Jose's History Park offers blast to the past". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  8. ↑ "San Jose Historical Museum Association Newsletter" (PDF). Vol. 1, no. 4. August 1978. Retrieved 7 January 2019.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  9. 1 2 3 "San Jose Historical Museum Association Newsletter" (PDF). Summer 1979. Retrieved 7 January 2019.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  10. ↑ "Associated Oil Service Station". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  11. ↑ "Bank of Italy". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  12. ↑ "Blacksmith Shed". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  13. ↑ "Chiechi House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  14. ↑ "Coyote Post Office Opening Planned" (PDF). San Jose Historical Museum Association News. Vol. I, no. 3. February 1981. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  15. ↑ "Coyote Post Office, Historic Landmark 10-193". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  16. ↑ "Dashaway Stables". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  17. ↑ "Dr. Warburton's Office, Historic Landmark 10-195". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  18. ↑ "Empire Firehouse". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  19. ↑ "Gordon House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  20. ↑ "Greenawalt House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  21. ↑ "Hill House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  22. ↑ "Markham House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  23. ↑ "Migrant Worker Houses, Historic Landmark 10-192". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  24. ↑ "Nelson – DeLuz House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  25. ↑ "Two-alarm fire destroys 1905 house at History Park". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  26. ↑ "Chinese American Historical Museum at the Ng Shing Gung". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  27. ↑ "Pacific Hotel". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  28. ↑ "Pasetta House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  29. ↑ "Paulson House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  30. ↑ "Portuguese Historical Museum at the Imperio". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  31. ↑ "Print Shop". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  32. ↑ "Santa Ana One-Room Schoolhouse". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  33. ↑ History of the One Room School House at History Park
  34. ↑ "Stevens Ranch Fruit Barn". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  35. ↑ "Trolley Barn". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  36. ↑ "Umbarger House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  37. ↑ "Zanker House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  38. ↑ "Electric Light Tower". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  39. ↑ "Railroad Steam Locomotive and Cars". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.