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Historic Sites

Berryessa Adobe
The city's oldest adobe structure features documents, objects, and other artifacts from the era before California's statehood in 1850. Located at 373 Jefferson St. near Santa Clara University. Open Thursdays and Saturdays 12 noon to 4:00 pm. For more information, call 408.615.2488.

Harris-Lass Historic Museum
Santa Clara's last preserved farm site includes a large full furnished Italianate-style home, barn, summer kitchen, and a tankhouse. Guided tours aid visitors in learning about local history and life in the early 1900s. Museum hours are Saturday and Sundays from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for students and seniors. Operated by the Historic Preservation Society of Santa Clara. 1889 Market Street. For more information, call 408.249.7905.

Headen-Inman House
The Headen-Inman House includes a museum with photographs and artifacts related to the history of Santa Clara. Rotating exhibits by the Santa Clara Art Association are on display. The museum is open most Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. Located at 1509 Warburton Ave. For further information, call 408.248.ARTS.

Historic Photographs of Santa Clara
Copies of more than 150 historic photographs of the City of Santa Clara are on display at City Hall, 1500 Warburton Ave. From photographs of a 1917 parade, to the Santa Clara Mission after a 1926 fire, pioneer aviator John J. Montgomery with his aeroplane the "Santa Clara" (c. 1905), a shot of the east side of Main Street between Franklin and Liberty St. (c. 1890), to portrait photos of Santa Clara's earliest residents (Morse, Franck, Bacigalupi, Eberhard, and others), these photographs were installed for the City's 140th anniversary in 1992, and have remained as a tribute to Santa Clara's rich and interesting past. The photographs are available for viewing weekdays, from 7:30am to 5pm. Tour booklets are available from the City Manager's Office; order forms are available at the City Hall Information Desk.

Mission Santa Clara de Asis
The eighth of 21 missions built in California, founded in 1777 by the Spanish Franciscans. (California Historical Landmark No. 338). The mission and surrounding Mission Gardens are on the grounds of picturesque Santa Clara University. For more information, call 408.554.4023.

Santa Clara Historic Museum
Housed in the Headen-Inman House, the museum features historic artifacts and photos related to the history of Santa Clara. Located at 1509 Warburton Avenue near City Hall. For more information, call 408.248.2787.

Santa Clara Women's Club Adobe
One of the oldest adobe structures in Northern California, and a state registered historical landmark (CA Historical Landmark No. 249), the adobe has origins dating to 1784. Built in 1790, the structure was originally part of a row of houses for married Indian couples. Located at 3260 The Alameda. For more information, call 408.246-8000.

South Bay Historical Railroad Society
Two operational scale model railroad layout displays depicting various railroad eras and operations venues, plus areas devoted to artifacts and other railroad-related objects. Open 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Located at the Santa Clara Depot (at Caltrain station), 1005 Railroad Ave. For more information, call 408.243.3969.

Stroll Into the Past
A self-guided tour of Santa Clara history leads visitors through a series of 28 plaques tracing the city's history from a Native American settlement to its present status as the internationally recognized center of technology innovation. Tour begins at the Santa Clara Civic Center, corner of Civic Center Drive and Lincoln Ave. For more information, call 408.615.2200.


Other Historic Links

Books on Santa Clara's History
Please note: All these titles can be found in the book collection of the Santa Clara City Library. Some of these titles are also available for sale at the Friends of the Library Book Store, at the Santa Clara Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Rd.

Santa Clara County Historical & Genealogical Society
The international genealogy collection and the Santa Clara County Early Settler files of the Genealogical Society are housed in the Heritage Pavilion of the Santa Clara City Central Park Library at 2635 Homestead Road. The Heritage Pavilion also provides online access to genealogy databases and includes a collection of research materials on Santa Clara City history. For more information, contact Local History Librarian Mary Hanel, phone 408.615.2909 or email mhanel@ci.santa-clara.ca.us

Santa Clara Historic Home Tour
Annual Santa Clara Historic Home Tour usually held the first weekend of December. Past tours have included historic private homes, the Berryessa Adobe, Carmelite Monastery, and the Harris-Lass Museum. Call 408.249.7905, or email info@sc-hometour.com for more information.

Silicon Valley History Online
Approximately 1,000 historic photographs, manuscripts and other images of Santa Clara Valley history can be accessed online. From the home page, visitors to the site can explore materials in six major themes: agriculture, education, people, technology, transportation, or urban life. For more information about Silicon Valley History Online, contact Local History Librarian Mary Hanel, phone 408.615.2909 or email mhanel@ci.santa-clara.ca.us

Site Map | Contact Us | Request Information Santa Clara Convention and Visitors Bureau - 1850 Warburton Ave., Santa Clara, CA 95050
Santa Clara Convention Center - 5001 Great America Pkwy., Santa Clara, CA 95054
ph: 800.272.6822