“Do You Know the Way to San José?” is a partnership between History San José and the Quimby Oak Middle School’s Lobo School of Innovation. This educational initiative encourages LSI seventh graders to actively participate in the preservation and interpretation of San José’s rich history. This program invites students to research, formulate, and design interpretive projects to be displayed throughout History Park, offering visitors valuable insights into the city’s past.

Click on the button to learn more about the program’s objectives, structure, educational benefits, and program leads.

History San José (HSJ) is a premier resource for educators when it comes to Silicon Valley history and heritage. Its mission is to preserve and enrich the cultural heritage of San José and the Santa Clara Valley through research, collections, partnerships, educational programs, and events. The organization provides educational opportunities both on HSJ sites and virtually that promote critical thinking and engage students and visitors in interactive learning.

Lobo School of Innovation (LSI) is an innovative project-based learning program partnered with the New Tech Network. It is a public middle school in the Evergreen School District and is one of the instructional choices available to Quimby Oak Middle School students. It creates rigorous, authentic projects that teach students to adapt and engage in the world around them. LSI students apply their knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems in their communities.

2021-2022

For 2021-2022, LSI and HSJ requested that students interrogate what histories are missing from History Park and build art installation models that advocate for the inclusion of lesser-known stories. Students had over a dozen project models ranging from Ohlone history to more recent histories related to the Lee’s Sandwiches franchise. LSI and HSJ were so impressed with the projects and secured funds from the City of San José to turn two of the projects into full-size art installations. Local artist Ramon Franco brought the students’ visions to life and the installation will live at History Park for at least two years periodically traveling to other local sites.

2022-2023

For 2022-2023, LSI and HSJ encouraged students to actively participate in the preservation and interpretation of San Jose’s rich history. This program invites students to research, formulate, and design interpretive plaques to be displayed throughout History Park, offering visitors valuable insights into the city’s past. Students built displays around seven themes: Muwekma Ohlone, Early Figures, Changemakers, Recent Figures, AAPI History, Tech, and Labor Rights. Visit History Park and review students’ work here!