Many people believe Silicon Valley to be a modern, engineering world tucked away in the southern part of the San Francisco bay area. People do not realize that San Jose is rich in history and plays a significant role in California’s past.
San Jose, the current capital of Silicon Valley, was the first state capital of the state of California where the first state legislature convened. Today much of this history has been captured and restored in two different places of the city called History San Jose.
History San Jose Attractions
Peralta Adobe, the oldest dwelling from the 1700's, and the Fallon House, home of one of earliest mayors in 1850's, are Historic Sites located in downtown San Jose, CA and seen by visitors and locals as they walk by on the sidewalk. These sites are available for special events, weddings, and scheduled tours only. Groups may learn about cooking outside in the Horno oven by the adobe and the way people lived in these two distinct eras.
San Jose became a community in the 1700’s while the Spaniards were ruling over the territory. The oldest dwelling, the Adobe, still standing in San Jose and is home of Luis Peralta, appointed as the Comisionado from the Spaniards to govern over the territory.
History Park is a model town built to view San Jose the way it looked in the late 1800’s. It is located in Kelley Park, San Jose’s largest city park. History Park is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 – 4 and available for tours led by volunteer docents for groups. (Check website for summer hours) There is a $6 admission contribution (children under 12 are free) which helps preserve the park, buildings and artifacts.
San Jose, first known as the “Valley of the Hearts Delights” during the 1800’s and early 1900’s was rich in agriculture where people grew crops and raised livestock for the army in San Francisco, miners and immigrants who came to California during this time. During the gold rush, the population expanded tremendously in this community.
Who Administers History San Jose Now
These historic sites are managed by the Historical Museums of San Jose association which maintains a full time professional staff to preserve this history for San Jose. They arrange special events, group tours and student history classes throughout the year. Volunteer docents are present through the park with many stories and activities for visitors to engage in.
Things to Do at History Park
Visitors may ride the old fashion trolley car through town just like people did in the original downtown. A significant icon of that era was the Electric Light Tower which was built in 1881 to be one source of light for the whole town. Local story tellers talk about the myth tale that the designer of the Eiffel Tower in Paris visited this tower seeking ideas.
Volunteer docents are dressed in costume and visible in different buildings to tell tales during this period of time and display activities like working in the blacksmith shop and canneries.
Families may gather at the Museum Store and Café which is located inside the famous O’Brien’s Candy Store for shopping, light lunch or taste an old fashion soda or ice cream.
These two areas provide the background for many community events held in San Jose throughout each year like:
- Founders’ Day Fiesta-Fandango
- Day of Remembrance & Reflection
- Antique Autos in History Park
- Haunt the Hollow
History San Jose displays a different side of San Jose in the heart of this technology world and is a place for families and visitors to discover the rich history of this community and state. Families may stay locally in the downtown hotels.
Donna West - Donna West is a Writer with an uncanny ability and passion of finding unusual ideas, off the beaten path, even in everyday occurrences.
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