CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

The History Museum will be closed on Sunday, March 31.

 

Evolution of Green: Environmental Activism in the Santa Clara Valley

Evolution of Green: Environmental Activism in the Santa Clara Valley 

Evolution of Green will share the stories of those individuals and groups whose experiences have shaped the evolving narrative of our environmental story…

March 13-September 22
The History Museum

Environmental Activism, in its many forms, has played a critical role in our Santa Clara Valley history.  This complex movement to create a sustainable environment has been fostered by grassroots agencies as well as a multitude of organizations, from farmers and nature conservation groups to high-tech companies and universities. These groups, despite their varying missions, play an important role in developing, supporting or promoting sustainability solutions. Evolution of Green will share the stories of those individuals and groups whose experiences have  shaped the evolving narrative of our environmental story while also engaging visitors in the ongoing need and desire for community-fostered awareness and change.

Our changing attitudes about the environment and our need to address crucial environmental challenges in our region have influenced our landscape development, public policy, and our community awareness of the human impact on nature. The popularization of ecological ideas and activism has also given citizens the power to create community-based responses to these issues. This exhibition will serve as a platform for engaging and educating museum visitors about the network of local groups like the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, Green Belt Alliance, and The Committee for Green Foothills. Organizations that advocate for environmentally sustainable practices while addressing community needs, creating new forums for information exchange, and mapping new routes for urban development.

Evolution of Green will use interactive models, historical narrative, environmental soundscapes, and other media to interpret this history and explore proposed future steps for environmental activism.

Public Programs Include:
» History:inFOCUS lecture: A lecture and conversation with Richard Walker, author of The Country in the City: The Greening of the San Francisco Bay Area.
» Family Farm-to-table event: The Museums of Los Gatos will partner with the Community Alliance for Family Farmers, the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority, and local farms to host a day of activities and tastings promoting sustainable agriculture and open space preservation.

 

The Story of Los Gatos

Discover the stories that connect us to our past

History Exhibitions at the Museums of Los Gatos invite visitors to explore more than 100 years of the city’s rich past—The Museum’s engaging exhibitions will feature large-scale objects, hands-on experiences, and multimedia presentations that will interpret and present our history in new and exciting ways.

The History Museum’s permanent exhibition The Story of Los Gatos, featuring Los Gatos history, is in the planning stages. Witness history in the making as we develop and build this three-phase project! As the exhibition is developed over the next few years, the stories of Los Gatos will be interpreted through images, artifacts, and stories from the Museum collection.

Phase One:
Introduction to Los Gatos
Visitors will learn about the pivotal events and people in Los Gatos history, from the creation of the railroad to the beginnings of Silicon Valley. Select artifacts, images, and personal stories will also interpret our community’s unique storyline and how it fits into greater California History.

Phase Two:
Hands-On History
Iconic objects from our collection will continue to be integrated into our Los Gatos story and timeline. Interactive models, touchable objects and new media will facilitate the telling our community story.
These new exhibit elements will further engage visitors and allow visitors to create their own journey and experience into Los Gatos history.

Phase Three:
Community History Gallery
What does Los Gatos mean to you?
The community history gallery is devoted to telling your personal stories and histories. Visitors can map their stories and memories in our community memory map or record them, in writing or audibly, in our interactive StoryShare station. A space for visitors to not only contribute but listen to other visitor’s stories. The gallery will also include a Los Gatos family tree that tells the ongoing story of the innovators, workers, and investors who shaped community history.