GILROY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

GILROY, CA

Máyyan 'Ooyákma - Coyote Ridge Wildflowers This Santa Clara Valley open space preserve south of San Jose, CA opened in 2023 and has 5 miles of trails. I saw lots of wildflowers during my hike. — Máyyan 'Ooyákma - Coyote Ridge Wildflowers Credit: ricknor

The Gilroy Historical Society is a non-profit organization located in Gilroy, California. Founded in 1974, the society is dedicated to preserving and sharing the unique history of Gilroy and South Santa Clara County. The organization offers a variety of activities and programs that bring to life the exciting past of the region.

The Gilroy Historical Society’s museum houses a wide array of artifacts, photographs and documents that tell the story of the area’s history. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm and features rotating exhibits, educational programming and guided tours. The library and archives contain an extensive collection of newspapers, photographs, maps and other documents, which are available to researchers and the public.

The society also hosts a number of events throughout the year, including lectures, workshops, tours, and special programs. Additionally, the organization offers volunteer opportunities, such as helping out at the museum, assisting with research projects, and helping with public programs.

The Gilroy Historical Society is an important resource for the community and a great way to learn about the city’s rich history.

GILROY HISTORICAL SOCIETY is a Historical Societies, Historic Preservation in GILROY CA. US MID #8400601878

The museum is classed as HSC (Historical Societies, Historic Preservation). It comes under American Alliance of Museums (AAM) region: Western (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington).

Castroville / Japanese Schoolhouse internment – to detention (# 0016) Description of of being rounded up and forced to leave for the detention center.

See the <u><a href="https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=63714" rel="noreferrer nofollow">schoolhouse marker</a></u> for detail of the text.

<i>Use the “Castroville Japanese Schoolhouse” tag to connect the pictures.</i>

Castroville / Japanese Schoolhouse internment cycle (# 0028) A fascinating, and very under-utilized, historical site in Castroville, which is on the way to Monterey, CA. I fortunately discovered it, and a number of other places related to Japanese and Chinese history in California, just by searching through <u><a href="https://www.hmdb.org" rel="noreferrer nofollow">The Historical Marker Database</a></u>.

Japanese laborers had been migrating to this area since the late 1800’s as tenant farmers (the primary crop remains artichokes). By the 1930’s there were enough Japanese families that they wanted a schoolhouse to preserve history and also to provide a community for their children that was safe from the local hostility. The “Japanese Schoolhouse,” founded in 1936, was short-lived since in 1942 all Japanese were ordered to be interred, due to the war with Japan.

Historical Marker <u>”<a href="https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=63772" rel="noreferrer nofollow">For the Sake of the Children</a>”</u> provides a good description of the history of the area. Note that the schoolhouse is sometimes referred to as the Castroville Japanese Language School. Use the <i>Castroville Japanese Schoolhouse</i> tag to connect the pictures.

Storm and Rainbow over South San Jose Taken from the top of Bernal Rd in Santa Teresa Park

Manzanita trunk Older bark on manzanitas erodes or peels away to reveal the bare woody trunk or branches. This specimen has dropped limbs and branches yet still produces abundant leaves and blossoms.
Seen at Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve

New Almaden Bell Tower Located in the Hacienda entrance to Almaden Quicksilver County Park

Spread The Word It was a very familiar story. The ice plant community was living happily on the hillside. Had been for centuries. The weeds came along with what they believed was a better way of life and forcibly spread the weed message. The weeds also introduced disease nearly decimating the ice plants.

Aptos, California 2012

Castroville / Japanese Schoolhouse – monument (# 0030) As the <u><a href="http://www.mchsmuseum.com/Japanese.html" rel="noreferrer nofollow">Monterey County</a></u> site and the <u><a href="https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=63714" rel="noreferrer nofollow">HMDB timeline</a></u> describe the schoolhouse and the Castroville community, the town has historically been home to migrants who work in the surrounding fields, and those migrants have regularly had a concern that their children remember their heritage and use their heritage for protection, thus the “ For the Sake of the Children” motto.

Unfortunately, the site is not well-marked on either of the major highways passing it, and there are no signs in the town leading to it. Thus, much like I’ve experienced in other recent efforts to understand historic discrimination and hostility to Asian populations, there seems to be a concerted effort to keep that past invisible.

<i>Use the “Castroville Japanese Schoolhouse” tag to connect the pictures.</i>

Contact GILROY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

GILROY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PO BOX 1621
GILROY
CA
95021

Disclaimer: please note this database is maintained by volunteers and whilst we endeavour to do our best, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the listing.

If you notice any errors or omissions in the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

< COASTAL BAND OF THE CHUMASH NATION PLEASANT VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY >

Find more GILROY CA Museums

What 3 Words

///forget.custom.chops. Near Gilroy, California

Nearby Museums

GILROY GARDENS FAMILY THEME PARK GILROY MUSEUM GILROY HISTORICAL MUSEUM GILROY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Map of GILROY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

GILROY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Information

MID #	8400601878
Name	GILROY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Alternate Name
Classification	Historical Societies, Historic Preservation, , Western
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)	770042951
NTEECC	A82
Tax period of the latest return filed (YYYYMM)	201212
INCOME	0
REVENUE	0
LAT/LONG	37.009574, -121.571531
CODES	FIPS State Code: 06 FIPS County Code: 085 US Census Tract: 512603 US Census Block: 2002