History_Park_at_Kelley_Park

History Park

History Park at Kelley Park in San Jose, California, USA is designed as an indoor/outdoor museum, arranged to appear as a small US town might have in the early 1900s (decade). Since its inauguration in 1971, 32 historic buildings and other landmarks have either been moved from their original San Jose locations or are represented by replicas.

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History San José

History Park at Kelley Park is operated by History San José, which also has its headquarters at History Park. History San José (HSJ) is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was formed from the San José Historical Museum.

HSJ traces its origins back to 1945, when local volunteer Clyde Arbuckle was appointed to the honorary position of San José City Historian; Arbuckle had no formal training, but was well known for his keen interest in local history. In 1949, a temporary replica of the first State House was built in San Jose Civic Plaza to celebrate the centennial of the first Legislature of California. Arbuckle curated a well-received exhibit of local history shown with the State House replica. The replica was moved to the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in 1950 and became the State House Museum, where Arbuckle served as the first curator, collecting local historic artifacts.[1] So much material was donated that an annex, built in 1958 to house additional items, was full by 1962.[2]

The Historical Museum of San José, managed by the city of San Jose, was founded in 1949 simultaneously with the State House centennial activities.[1] In 1965, Theron Fox persuaded the city of San Jose to set aside 16 acres (6.5 ha) at the south end of Kelley Park to house the San José Historical Museum, intended to be a historical reconstruction of a small town,[2] which opened on June 18, 1971.[3] The San Jose Historical Museum Association was also founded in 1971 to administer Historical Museum activities.[2] The architectural firm of Churchill & Zlatunich were retained to develop a master plan for the site by July 1, 1972.[4] By February 1972, the museum was averaging over 1,000 visitors per month; admission prices were modest, at a maximum of $0.25 per adult ($1 for an annual pass).[4]

On February 24, 1977, the half-scale replica of the Electric Light Tower was placed upright,[5] and later that year, on September 25, the first major buildings were dedicated on the site, including the replica Pacific Hotel and historic Umbarger House.[6] By 1980, the Historical Museum had brought onsite the Associated Oil Company Gas Station, Chiechi House, Coyote Post Office, Dashaway Stables, Doctor's Office, Empire Fire House, Print Shop, and Steven's Ranch Fruit Barn, although not all of them were open to the public; admission prices had risen modestly to $0.50 per adult.[2]

The San José Historical Museum was spun off as the History San José nonprofit in 1998. HSJ manages History Park at Kelley Park from the upper floor of the Pacific Hotel in History Park, a replica of a historic hotel originally in downtown San Jose. HSJ is also responsible for the operation of the Peralta AdobeFallon House Historic Site and the Collection Center/Research Library & Archives, which are in downtown San Jose and Kelley Park, respectively.[1]

Exhibits

Period exhibits consist mainly of the 32 historical buildings and replica buildings, including a doctor's office, a dentist's office (complete with an old foot-pedal-powered drill), blacksmith shed, a working print shop, the Pacific Hotel, the Empire Fire House, the Bank of Italy, a post office, and a number of houses of early Santa Clara Valley settlers. Some buildings house special interest historical societies and others host galleries. Admission is free, unless there is a special event being held.[7]

On weekdays, tours are offered by paid staff, often for local students on class field trips. On weekends, selected exhibit buildings are staffed on a rotating schedule by volunteers, who also operate a vintage trolley over the length of the park, including under the Light Tower replica.

Buildings

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Other structures

Exhibits

SP 1215 at History Park

Other attractions include:

Map

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26
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Trolley Barn (California Trolley and Railroad Corporation)
24
23
Southern Pacific 1215
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21
San Jose electric light tower
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19
Portuguese Historical Museum at the Imperio
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16
15
14
13
12
11
10
Greenawalt House (Viet Museum)
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7
6
5
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2
Bank of Italy
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Associated Oil Service Station
Historical and replica structures at History Park at Kelley Park 
  •  Former commercial 
  •  Former residences 
  •  Former public 

1
Associated Oil Service Station
2
Bank of Italy
3
Blacksmith Shed
4
Chiechi House
5
Coyote Post Office
6
Dashaway Stables
7
Dr Warburton's Office
8
Empire Firehouse
9
Gordon House (Rotary Club of San Jose)
10
Greenawalt House (Viet Museum)
11
Hill House
12
Markham House (Poetry Center San Jose)
13
Migrant Worker Houses
14
Nelson–De Luz House
15
Ng Shing Gung (Chinese American Historical Museum)
16
Pacific Hotel (History San Jose)
17
Pasetta House
18
Paulson House (California Pioneers of Santa Clara County)
19
Portuguese Historical Museum at the Imperio
20
Print Shop
21
San Jose electric light tower
22
Santa Ana One Room Schoolhouse
23
Southern Pacific 1215
24
Stevens Ranch Fruit Barn
25
Trolley Barn (California Trolley and Railroad Corporation)
26
Umbarger House
27
Zanker House (African American Heritage House)

References

  1. "History". History San Jose. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  2. "San Jose Historical Museum Association News" (PDF). Vol. 1, no. 1. September 1980. Retrieved 7 January 2019. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  3. "San Jose Historical Museum Association Newsletter" (PDF). Vol. 1, no. 7. May 1972. Retrieved 7 January 2019. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  4. "San Jose Historical Museum Association Newsletter" (PDF). Vol. 1, no. 4. February 1972. Retrieved 7 January 2019. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  5. "San Jose Historical Museum Association Newsletter" (PDF). March 1977. Retrieved 7 January 2019. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  6. "San Jose Historical Museum Association Newsletter" (PDF). Vol. 1, no. 1. September 1977. Retrieved 7 January 2019. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  7. Hill, Angela (September 14, 2016). "San Jose's History Park offers blast to the past". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  8. "San Jose Historical Museum Association Newsletter" (PDF). Vol. 1, no. 4. August 1978. Retrieved 7 January 2019. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  9. "San Jose Historical Museum Association Newsletter" (PDF). Summer 1979. Retrieved 7 January 2019. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  10. "Associated Oil Service Station". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  11. "Bank of Italy". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  12. "Blacksmith Shed". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  13. "Chiechi House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  14. "Coyote Post Office Opening Planned" (PDF). San Jose Historical Museum Association News. Vol. I, no. 3. February 1981. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  15. "Coyote Post Office, Historic Landmark 10-193". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  16. "Dashaway Stables". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  17. "Dr. Warburton's Office, Historic Landmark 10-195". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  18. "Empire Firehouse". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  19. "Gordon House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  20. "Greenawalt House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  21. "Hill House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  22. "Markham House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  23. "Migrant Worker Houses, Historic Landmark 10-192". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  24. "Nelson – DeLuz House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  25. "Two-alarm fire destroys 1905 house at History Park". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  26. "Chinese American Historical Museum at the Ng Shing Gung". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  27. "Pacific Hotel". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  28. "Pasetta House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  29. "Paulson House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  30. "Portuguese Historical Museum at the Imperio". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  31. "Print Shop". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  32. "Santa Ana One-Room Schoolhouse". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  33. "Stevens Ranch Fruit Barn". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  34. "Trolley Barn". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  35. "Umbarger House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  36. "Zanker House". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  37. "Electric Light Tower". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  38. "Railroad Steam Locomotive and Cars". History San Jose. Retrieved 4 January 2019.

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