San Mateo County Historic Museum

You will enjoy this museum, especially if you were brought up in the area. The San Mateo County History Museum features early indigenous Ohlone, the Spanish, Mexicans, through the logging era, and stagecoaches. It also features street cars, the gold rush, aeronautical milestones, and oyster farming. There is even a history of whaling, and dog racing.

San Mateo County History Museum is housed in the 1910 courthouse building. it has Roman Renaissance architecture with beautiful stained glass. I like the police badge exhibit, and the history of famous inventors from Genentech, Intel, and Ampex. San Mateo is home to Amadeo Giannini, founder of Bank of Italy and Bank of America as well as the famous heart surgeon and inventor Dr. Thomas Fogarty.

If you are from the area, be sure to visit the Sports Hall of Fame exhibit and see how many people you know. I found many of my friends in there such as Terri and Ted Stickles, Greg Buckingham, Dick Roth, Don Bunce, Clyde Devine, Pokey Watson, Tod Spieker, and Jim Gaughran. All being from the swimming category except for Don Bunce (football).

Also, in the Sports Hall of Fame is surfer Jeff Clark, Tom Brady (2003), Jim Harbaugh, Bill Walsh, Peter Ueberroth, and Dick Vermeil. Lots of fun, great memories, and excellent historical overview. Open Tuesday to Sunday. $6 and $4 depending on age. Good restaurants nearby.