History Park

Rental Information

At History Park, there’s no shortage of interesting things to see, hear, and experience.  Located on 14 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, our gated outdoor facility is complete with paved streets, a running trolley, and over two dozen historic homes and buildings to explore – plus, it’s dotted with four expansive outdoor rental spaces that can be booked individually or bought out all at once!

    Looking for a respite from the sun or rain? This location also boasts two indoor meeting spaces perfect for small-to-medium sized gatherings.

    For more information about pricing and capacities, please visit our Rental Information Packet.

    History Park Buy-Out

    Features

    • 14 acres of gated, private lawn and building space for activities and entertainment
    • Plaza area surrounded by roses – perfect for stage entertainment
    • Evening streetlight system and dramatic Light Tower feature
    • Trolley rides and historic buildings with docents
    • A 2-pit barbecue area, 6 permanent picnic tables and 40 portable picnic tables
    • Enjoy fare from local vendor PennyLane Sweets and Treats in O’Brien’s Ice Cream Shop
    • Use of the entire grounds allows the renter private/exclusive access to History Park .

    Main Street Plaza

    Features

    • Our most shaded lawn with space for picnic tables and entertainment amongst rose bushes
    • Ideal area for staff picnics, festivals, vendor booths, etc.
    • Rental option includes use of two-pit BBQ with ample water and electrical access

    Tower Lawn

    Features

    • Expansive, lush lawn perfect for picnics and receptions
    • Events can be set under the magnificent ½ scale replica of the San José light tower
    • Includes use of Upstairs Empire Firehouse, featuring two ADA compliant bathrooms and a full kitchen

    BBQ Lawn

    Features

    • Rental option includes use of two-pit BBQ
    • Potable water available in immediate proximity
    • Excellent choice for lawn games and activities!

    Train Lawn

    Features

    • Home to a 75-ton locomotive accompanied by the OSH boxcar
    • Features the original Orchard Supply Hardware neon sign
    • Perfect for those who are seeking an area for team-building and the like

    Renzel Room (inside the Pacific Hotel)

    Features

    Charming private room perfect for meetings and small gatherings

    • Easy access through two sets of double doors into the Pacific Hotel and Arbuckle Gallery
    • Conveniently located near restrooms and potable water bottle filling station in hotel lobby

    Empire Firehouse (upstairs)

    Features

    • Ample space for conferences, board meetings, or family celebrations
    • Two ADA compliant restrooms and elevator access for the convenience of your guests
    • Equipped with a full kitchen
    • Near panoramic views of the grounds from ¾ length windows

    Testimonials

    “History Park is a San José gem! We love holding our annual Scout-O-Rama there each mother’s day weekend. The atmosphere is indescribable and creates a priceless backdrop to our event. Having an area that is so beautiful, secure, and conveniently located makes it a great venue”

    Dianne Betz – Director of Program for Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council 055, Boy Scouts of America

    “HSJ is such a beautiful and interesting destination in itself. We felt like our guests would have plenty to do even outside of the activities we provided. It’s centrally located, easy to access, and we never felt crowded. We got so many nice logs from our attendees, and they all said how much they enjoyed the park”

    Julie Stanton – Geocachers of the Bay Area, Cachin’ the Bay 2023 & 2025

    “We hosted our Red Cross All-Staff holiday meeting at History Park, and everyone loved the unique and charming setting. The events team was incredibly attentive and responsive, helping ensure our needs were met so everything ran seamlessly. We’re already looking forward to hosting our next event there!”

    Pooja Klebig – American Red Cross

    “We love hosting SJMade Fest at History Park! The setting is magical. The historic buildings and green spaces create a comfy atmosphere that our community looks forward to every year. Even as our event has grown to welcome up to 35,000 guests and hundreds of vendors, the venue handles the energy.”

    Thomas Ryan Sebastian – Moveable Inc.

    For more information, review the Rental Information Packet and reach out with any additional questions to events@historysanjose.org/408-918-1048

    To book an event, submit your Facility Use Inquiry to events@historysanjose.org