Become a Member | Events Calendar | Plan Your Visit | Exhibits & Collections | Volunteer 
 
New Faces at History Park
Welcome to Dean Wedlow, our new Events Technician 
Dean is a Bay Area native hailing from San Mateo and an accomplished musician, playing bass at venues across California. Look for Dean around History Park!

HSJ
Off the Gird
Catch HSJ at the Evergreen Village Square Off the Grid,
Saturday, April 23
11:00am - 3:00pm

We'll have have a fun interactive activity for kids, so come out for some tasty food and good times!
Print of the Month
Bring a little spring inside with this month's featured print of an orchard in bloom, c.1925

Click here to check out this image and hundreds more available for purchase from our online 

Each photograph you buy supports the History San José Research Library.
Dear Friends,

We've been spring cleaning! O'Brien's Ice Cream Parlor and Candy Store has gotten a face lift; the museum gift shop is coming back - see below; and we are clearing out the warehouse to
make way for the Bay Area Glass Institute's new Studio. We want to thank the Stella B. Gross Charitable Trust and the Hugh Stuart Center for their generous funding making this project possible! As our Curators inventoried and moved artifacts to HSJ's state-of-the-art Collection Center, they did extensive research on each item making certain it was relevant to the Museum's Mission.

During the process some artifacts were removed, or "deaccessioned," from the collection. Deaccession is a necessary museum practice that eliminates items in poor condition; already exist in great number; have no relevance to the Mission; or are hazardous. More than 32,000 artifacts were kept, and 1,400 were removed.

As the last phase of this process, the artifacts removed from the collection will be sold at HSJ's Spring Cleaning and Auction on Saturday, May 14th in History Park. The funds generated will be used to enhance the collection. There will be fabulous finds - furniture, hand tools, lanterns, pianos, and rare books from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Doors open and Auction Preview begins at 9:00 am; Live Auction at 10:30 am. See you there!


Until next time, 
 
Alida J. Bray
President & CEO
Save the Date for History San José's 
Valley of Heart's Delight 
History San José's annual Valley of Heart's Delight event returns Saturday, June 25, 2016 from 5:00pm - 9:00pm. This year we have a brand new format with the theme Then & Now!  You'll enjoy interactive theater experiences courtesy of Epic Immersive; music courtesy of the San Jose Jazz Boom Box; live glass blowing with the Bay Area Glass Institute; pop up exhibits featuring rare artifacts; and a "then & now" menu with old favorites and new creations by Catered Too!. Don't miss this unique experience!
A New Look for O'Brien's Ice Cream Parlor
& the Return of the Museum Gift Shop!

History San José is benefiting from our generous community. First the Rotary Club of San Jose granted HSJ funds to refurbish O'Brien's; and then Linda Loew made a gift to reopen the museum store. Stay tuned for news on the grand reopening!

The San Jose Mini Maker Faire 
Returns to History Park! 

We are excited to announce that the San Jose Mini Maker Faire is returning this fall to History Park! Join us Sunday, September 4, 2016 from 10:00am - 6:00pm and explore all of the amazing artist, craftsmen, and Makers that the Valley has to offer. Look for more info about this year's upcoming Faire and check out some of the highlights from last year's Faire in this fantastic video made by Jared Frazer of Tribute Short Flims below.

Collections Corner

Wanted! History San José's 'Mug Book' Collection
Check out our latest blog post on History San José's collection of 'Mug Books'. Mug Books were scrapbooks filled with wanted notices from law enforcement officials around the state, complete with pictures - or 'mug shots' - of known fugitives. This collection from the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office dates from 1874 to 1941 and gives a fascinating look at criminal activity and law enforcement of the time. Find out more here. 





Museum Mysteries - What is that?!
 
 
Can you guess what this object is or what it was used for? Email your responses to jevins@historysanjose.org, and one lucky person with the correct response will win a special prize
courtesy of History San José!  We'll post the answer in next month's newsletter.

 Last Month's Object

Did you figure out what last month's artifact was? If you guessed hat steamer, you are correct! We had some valiant guesses, but this one was another stumper. Check back next month for the answer to this month's mystery artifact.

Schmahl Science Workshops
Summer Science Research Camp 
at History Park
Looking for a fun summer activity? Check out Schmahl Science Workshops' Summer Science Research Camp for 5th - 8th graders. Explore physics using a smart phone as a scientific instrument, conduct experiments in microbiology, and much more in these fun and informative 5-day workshops. Click here for more details and register today!

Upcoming Events

The 22nd Annual Spring Garden Market 
Saturday April 16 
9:00am - 2:00pm
History Park
Free Admission
You don't want to miss the Master Gardeners of SantaClara County's annual Spring Garden Market! This is their premier plant sale, sustainable gardening showcase and vendor fair


32nd Annual Volkswagen Spring Meet
Sunday April 17 
8:00am - 3:00pm
History Park
Tickets: $5/Adults, $3/Kids

Car lovers, come out to History Park for the 32nd Annual Volkswagen Spring Meet! Enjoy the sunshine, classic vehicles, and more. For more detail visit: www.ggcvvwca.org
 

Wakespeare (or What He Willed)
Sunday April 24
6:00pm
History Park
$10 Suggested Donation

Join Shakespeare's closest friends, family, and most famous characters for a memorial and reception in his honour. Celebrate his life at Silicon Valley Shakespeare's Shakespeare 400 event, as we put the "fun" back in funeral and remember our dearly departed Bard.


Silicon Valley Bikes! Festival & Bike Shpw
Sunday May 15
11:00am - 5:00pm
History Park
Admission: $5; kids 2 and under Free

Come join our Valley's racing, road, recumbent, mountain, BMX, cargo biking, custom, low rider, recreation and bike polo playing communities, clubs, riding groups and their families for a day of celebrating cycling and its history.      

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