History San José

History San José is Silicon Valley’s largest and most comprehensive historical organization. We preserve and make available to scholars, teachers, researchers and the general public one of the largest and most comprehensive regional history collections in the state of California. As part of our mission to “celebrate the stories of diversity and innovation in San José and the Santa Clara Valley,” collections are utilized in rotating exhibits at History Park in San José, as well as satellite exhibits at San José City Hall and other County locations. Our museum collection brings together a variety of objects, including Native American artifacts, Spanish/Mexican Era artifacts, furniture, household items, costumes and textiles, personal items, toys, vehicles, agricultural equipment, canning machinery, art, tools, and objects from the technology industry. The Research Library and Archives include more than 5,000 linear feet of archival records and manuscripts, architectural drawings and specifications, maps, oral histories, audio and film materials, and books, as well as a photographic collection of over 30,000 images documenting the breadth of Santa Clara Valley history.