About Us
History San José anchors the region’s diverse cultural history by offering compelling experiences — exhibitions, festivals, educational programs, and academic research — for audiences to discover the dynamic history of San José and the Santa Clara Valley. Our vision is to enhance San José’s and Santa Clara County’s regional and global recognition, ensuring the rich, diverse history of San José is accessible and engaging for all. Locally, we strive to be a key engine in building a more connected, active, and vibrant community where everyone feels like a part of the ongoing story of San José and Santa Clara County. Our mission is achieved by focusing on three main categories:
Preservation
HSJ preserves the Valley’s material culture, engaging the community in research to share with a world-wide audience. Through physical and virtual exhibits, and our extensive archive and artifact collection, we offer resources and assistance to anyone wishing to explore the Valley’s history. Restoration and preservation of historical buildings is also a continuing focus, as we have 30+ buildings at History Park and two landmark buildings at San Pedro Square.
Education
We serve more than 12,000 students annually in and around the Valley. HSJ offers theme-based school programs highlighting local history. Programs are tailored in complexity by age range and are closely linked with core standards for grades K-12. Our programs are fun and experientially unique, as they are hosted across our various historical sites as well as our Collection Center.
Community Events
Our events focus on programming that results in active inter-generational engagement, celebration, and learning through a combination of crafts, storytelling, cultural performances and family-friendly, inquiry-based tours and experiences.
Locations and Highlights
History San José is one of the largest regional history museums in Northern California and comprises three locations around the city of San José:
History Park
History Park is a 14-acre town-like assemblage of 30+ original and reconstructed homes, businesses, and landmarks highlighting our local culture and history. The park is free and open to the public most days. On the weekends our docents are happy to discuss the buildings and their contents with guests. One of the fun bonuses we offer is a free ride around the park on our restored trolley!
Collection Center & Archives
The Collection Center & Archives is located in an environmentally controlled, secure facility across from History Park where we manage a collection of over 150,000 artifacts documenting the Valley’s past. Here you will find anything from the original documents of El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe and decades of historic photographs, to vintage downtown neon signs and the original Chuck E. Cheese, the first animatronic mascot in the world — created right here in San José!
Downtown San José Site
The Gonzales/Peralta Adobe, built in 1797, is the oldest surviving structure from El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe and the oldest home in California! The Carmela and Thomas Fallon House, built in the 1850s, is one of the earliest Victorian era homes in San José. Both structures are located in San Pedro Square and are quintessential representations of San José’s beginnings.
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