Santa Clara County History Articles

Saul Dreier, a survivor of the Holocaust and founder of the Holocaust Survivor Band, will speak and perform at a special event in Morgan Hill on Nov. 18.

An 83-year-old church in downtown San Jose has been granted historic landmark status after years of fighting invasive development proposals that could have demolished the house of worship.
Grace Baptist Church at 484 E. San Fernando St. has been designated …

The San Jose Chamber of Commerce building is in need of some urgent upgrades, and the organization has launched a foundation to raise the funds.
Built in 1942, the historic building that fronts the corner of West Santa Clara and …

San Jose officials want to save the historically significant residence once home to a Japanese community leader, farmer and survivor of World War II internment camps in California.
Preservationists pledged last week to save the North San Jose farmhouse once …

San Jose may be widely known as a tech hub, but it's also a city defined by its public art.
With a city of nearly 1 million people, San Jose is also home to hundreds of murals. In a multi-year …

A former North San Jose Japanese farming area found to have historical significance, especially during World War II, could become home to more than 1,000 multi-family residences and commercial space.
The San Jose Planning Commission is recommending city officials approve …

The new Lamchin Interpretive Center, sharing the story of the original inhabitants of this land, and the Spring Creek Trail open at Filoli.

California has been home to many Asian American and Pacific Islanders who have transcended barriers and reshaped society, from education to advocacy, art to sports, politics, and beyond.

The movement to legalize cannabis began in earnest in the ’60s and ’70s, and California was at the epicenter of it all the way up until the passage of Prop. 64, which legalized weed for adult use. The fight continues, …

How the California mental health crisis emerged out of the state’s history of deinstitutionalization and laws designed to protect the mentally ill, as well as the communities around them.

After decades of residents requesting historic status, San Jose is starting the process to create a new city landmark district — the first since 2007.
The San Jose City Council earlier this month voted unanimously to nominate Alameda Park/Schiele Avenue …

The Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum, which catalogs the city’s history from the first orchards to aerospace companies, has plans to expand.
The Sunnyvale City Council unanimously approved a $1.5 million allocation out of the city’s Park Dedication fund toward adding …

A decades old staple in San Jose's art scene is at risk of closing, so it's turning to the community for help.
The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, located in downtown's SoFA district, has raised enough money to …

Traces and remains of ancient creatures—from whale-ribs to a famous mastodon tooth—frequently surface on Santa Cruz beaches and in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

These arts groups have deep roots in the capital city.

Based in California’s most iconic vacation spot, Katherine Hill celebrates Tahoe Guide’s 42nd birthday.

The Williamson Act, passed in 1965, now keeps more than 16 million acres of farmland out of the hands of developers. Here's how the law puts the brakes on the development of California agricultural properties.

How California’s 10 state conservancies buy up open land and shield it from developers to preserve the natural environment for public use.