History San José

What History San José does

History San José is a 501(c)(3) non-profit historical museum organization founded in 1949 and operating under long-term contract with the City of San José to manage the City's historic collection. Its core operational footprint consists of three properties in San José, California: a 14-acre gated outdoor History Park at Kelley Park containing over 30 historic and replica structures and partner-operated ethnic heritage museums; the downtown Gonzales-Peralta Adobe–Fallon House Historic Site (the 1797 adobe is San José's oldest address); and a 40,000-square-foot seismically retrofitted, climate-controlled Collection Center housing 70,000+ photographs, 5,000+ linear feet of archival records, and specialized collections including the Perham Collection of Early Electronics (2,500+ objects). The organization serves K-12 schools (10,000+ students annually across programs such as Adobe Days, Early to Rise, Immigration, Westward Ho!, and Victorian Days), families (summer camp, ages 8-12), event renters (weddings up to 300 guests, corporate events), researchers and genealogists, and the general public through rotating exhibits and museum visits.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix: per-student school program fees ($10-$15 in-person, $110 per virtual session), event venue rentals at History Park and the Fallon House, summer camp tuition ($424 members / $450 public), traveling trunk rentals ($100 plus deposit), research service fees (photocopies, image publication permissions tiered $10-$75 by use case), memberships, individual and corporate donations, and foundation grants (notably CHCP and Hugh Stuart Center for Title I school access). Distribution is omnichannel: a website with FareHarbor-powered tour booking, Constant Contact email newsletters, active social media presence on Facebook/X/LinkedIn/TikTok/Instagram and YouTube, Google Arts & Culture virtual exhibits, and direct community partnerships via the school registration system and the ethnic heritage organizations embedded in History Park.

The go-to-market is hybrid: direct-to-consumer for events and casual visitors, sales-led for school and grant-funded programs, and community-led for the research library and archives. Funded operations rely heavily on grants and donations (Valley of Heart's Delight annual fundraiser), with no venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment ownership. The organization is currently pursuing expansion through new educational products (Traveling Trunks, 2026), new exhibits (South Bay Flashback, late 2025), and ongoing capital projects (Sakauye Farmhouse rehabilitation).

Name

History San José

Legal name

History San José

Website

https://historysanjose.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

History San José is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating under contract with the City of San José to manage a regional history collection. It runs a 14-acre History Park, the 1797 Gonzales-Peralta Adobe downtown, a 40,000 sq ft Collection Center, and serves K-12 schools, families, event renters, and researchers through educational programs, venue rentals, and exhibits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historical Museum & Cultural Heritage Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Historical Sites (712120)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Heritage & Historic District Tours (THAJAAAB), Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC), Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

Keywords

• Historical museum services
• Cultural heritage preservation
• Educational school programs
• Event venue rentals
• Archival research services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. School Programs: Fees charged for educational field trip programs for K-12 students including tours, hands-on activities, and virtual field trips. Pricing varies by program type ($10-$15 per student for in-person, $110 per session for virtual)
2. Event Rentals: Rental fees for hosting weddings, corporate events, and private gatherings at History Park venues and the Fallon House. Includes buy-out options and individual space rentals
3. Memberships: Annual membership program offering benefits to supporters of the organization
4. Donations: Individual and business donations, annual fundraisers like Valley of Heart's Delight, and grant funding from foundations
5. Summer Camp: Two-week summer camp programs for children ages 8-12 at $424-$450 per camper, with sibling discounts available
6. Traveling Trunks: Rental of themed educational trunks for classroom use at $100 rental fee plus $50 refundable deposit
7. Research Services: Fees for photocopy services (50 cents per page), digital image reproduction, and publication permissions for archival materials

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

History San José operates a regional history museum comprising the 14-acre History Park at Kelley Park with 30+ historic structures, the downtown Gonzales/Peralta Adobe–Fallon House Historic Site, and a Research Library with 70,000+ photographs and 5,000+ linear feet of archives. It delivers fee-based educational programs (in-person school programs, virtual field trips, traveling trunks, summer camp), event and wedding venue rentals at historic sites, rotating gallery exhibits, and research/archival services to schools, families, event planners, and researchers in the Santa Clara Valley.

Product overview

History San José is a historical museum organization operating multiple historic sites and educational programs in San José, California. The core offerings include History Park (a 14-acre outdoor museum with 30+ historic buildings), the Gonzales/Peralta Adobe-Fallon House Historic Site (downtown), educational school programs serving 10,000+ students annually, virtual field trips, traveling trunks, summer camp, and event/wedding rentals. The organization also manages extensive research archives and rotating gallery exhibits including the Arbuckle Gallery and McKay Gallery. Revenue streams include admission fees, program fees, facility rentals, donations, and membership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• History Park at Kelley Park 14-acre gated outdoor facility in Kelley Park with over 30 historic and replica structures representing San José's past. Includes museums, trolley rides, working print shop, and weekend activities; home to diverse cultural and service organizations. Park open daily 9am-4pm; historic houses open Wednesday and Saturday-Sunday 12pm-3:45pm.
• Gonzales/Peralta Adobe – Fallon House Historic Site Downtown San José historic site featuring the 1797 Gonzales/Peralta Adobe (San José's oldest address) and the 1855 Victorian-era Carmela & Thomas Fallon House. Offers docent-led tours on weekends and by appointment, located in the San Pedro Square Market area.
• School Programs (In-Person Field Trips) Interactive educational programs aligned with Common Core and California Standards for Social Studies for K-12 students, including tours, hands-on activities, and multiple themed curricula. Pricing ranges $10-$15 per student depending on program; minimum payments apply; add-ons available at $5 per student. Title I schools eligible for full-cost grants covering program fees and transportation reimbursement.
• Virtual Field Trips Remote/virtual educational programs delivered to classrooms covering Adobe Days, Early to Rise, History Detectives, Immigration, One-Room Schoolhouse, Westward Ho!, Valley of Heart's Delight, and Victorian Days. Priced at $110 per session with 35 student cap; Title I schools eligible for grant-funded participation.
• Traveling Trunks Theme-based educational kits rentable by schools for 2-week periods, containing real and replica artifacts, digital supplementary materials, and lesson plans. First trunk: 'Early to Rise: Children's Work and Life in the 1870s'. Rental fee $100 plus $50 refundable deposit.
• Time Travelers Summer Camp Two-week immersive summer day camp for ages 8-12 featuring hands-on historical experiences at History Park. Monday-Friday 9am-2pm. $424 for HSJ members, $450 general public, with sibling discounts and scholarships available.
• Event Rentals at History Park Venue rentals at History Park for weddings, cultural celebrations, corporate team-building, and fundraisers. Includes 14-acre buy-out options, Main Street Plaza, Tower Lawn, BBQ Lawn, Train Lawn, Renzel Room, and Empire Firehouse upstairs. Channel is inquiry-based with rental packets distributed via the website.
• Carmela and Thomas Fallon House & Garden Rentals Event venue rental at the Carmela and Thomas Fallon House in downtown San José. Features mature gardens, ADA-accessible basement with restrooms and catering space, and restored interior spaces dating to the 1850s, adjacent to the Gonzales/Peralta Adobe.
• Weddings at History San José Wedding venue services at History Park accommodating elopements and weddings up to 300 guests. Features 14 acres of grounds, paved streets, trolley rides, historic buildings, and unique activities including O'Brien's Ice Cream Parlor.
• Research Library and Archives Research Library and Archives housing over 5,000 linear feet of research materials documenting Santa Clara Valley history from 1777 to present, including family papers, corporate records, maps, architectural drawings, photographs, oral histories, newspapers, and films. Access by appointment only; materials available through online catalog. Fee-based services include photocopying (50 cents/page), digital image reproduction, and tiered publication permission fees.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership program offering benefits to supporters of History San José, providing recurring revenue and community engagement. Specific tier pricing not publicly disclosed.
• South Bay Flashback Exhibit (McKay Gallery) Rotating exhibit at the Leonard and David McKay Gallery at the Pasetta House in History Park. Current exhibit 'South Bay Flashback: Riffs, Rhythms, and Revolution' chronicles the bands, venues, publications, and radio stations of San Jose's 1960s Rock and Roll landscape; on view through December 21, 2026.
• Arbuckle Gallery at the Pacific Hotel Rotating exhibit gallery at the Pacific Hotel featuring 'Valley Memories: Curiosities & Treasures from History San José's Collection', showcasing artifacts from the collection including vintage cameras, games, fashion, and food products. Weekday and weekend hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ students served annually through school programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chinese Historical and Cultural Project (CHCP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991CHCP reconstructed the replica 1888 Ng Shing Gung building as a museum within History Park; in 1991, the Chinese American Historical Museum was gifted to the City of San Jose community. CHCP also provides grant funding for immigration school programs serving 4-12 graders in Santa Clara County.
• Portuguese Heritage Society of CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with History San José to operate the Portuguese Historical Museum at Imperio in History Park, preserving Portuguese heritage and culture.
• California Pioneers of Santa Clara CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Paulson House at History Park documenting early California pioneers.
• Printers' GuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners to operate and demonstrate the historic Print Shop at History Park.
• California Trolley & Railroad CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for the Trolley Barn at History Park, maintaining and operating historic trolley rides for visitors.
• La Raza Historical Society of Santa Clara ValleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for the Chiechi House at History Park preserving Latino/a history.
• Rotary Club of San JoséminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for the Gordon House at History Park.
• Việt Museum (Museum of the Boat People and Republic of Vietnam)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for the Greenawalt House at History Park preserving Vietnamese American heritage.
• Poetry Center San JoséminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for the Markham House at History Park.
• African American Heritage HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for the Zanker House at History Park preserving African American history.
• Perham FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit foundation that donated the Perham Collection of Early Electronics to History San José in 2003. The foundation includes local electronics pioneers and continues to support the collection.
• The California Pioneers of Santa Clara CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsors the 'Westward Ho!' school program about westward expansion and overland trails.
• California Trolley and Railroad CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with History San José for the Diridon Station transportation history exhibit.
• Mineta Transportation InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the 'The Way to San José' transportation history exhibit at Diridon Station.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pasadena Museum of History: California regional history museum operating historic sites, archives, and educational programs in the Pasadena area. Comparable scope and audience, with overlapping school program and event rental business models.
• Riverside Metropolitan Museum: Regional history museum operated by the City of Riverside with collections, exhibits, and educational programming. Comparable governance structure (city-affiliated) and programming mix to History San José.
• Sacramento History Museum: Operates a historic museum complex in Old Sacramento with educational programs, school field trips, and event rentals. Directly comparable as a regional California history museum serving K-12 audiences and event clients.
• Ventura County Museum of History & Art: Regional history and art museum serving Ventura County with exhibits, educational programs, and archives. Comparable as a Southern California regional history institution of similar scale.
• San Diego History Center: Regional history organization operating a historic park (Presidio Park) with exhibits, educational programs, and archives serving the San Diego area. Closely comparable as a California-based regional history museum with similar educational and event programming.
• Santa Barbara Historical Museum: Regional history museum maintaining historic collections, archives, and educational programming for the Santa Barbara region. Comparable scale and programming mix including school programs and event venue operations.

Emerging players

• Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose: San Jose-based children's museum with K-12 field trip programs and summer camps. Direct competitor for Title I school bookings and family summer programming in the same market.
• The Tech Interactive: San Jose-based science and technology center offering K-12 educational programs and field trips. Competes directly for school program bookings in the same Santa Clara County market.
• Computer History Museum: Silicon Valley-based museum holding the Perham-adjacent tech heritage collections and offering K-12 educational programs. Overlapping Bay Area audience and educational mission, particularly relevant given HSJ's Perham Collection of Early Electronics.

Broad incumbents

• Oakland Museum of California: Larger California history and art museum covering state-wide history with galleries, collections, and educational programs. Broader geographic scope and scale, but overlapping programming in school field trips and historical exhibits.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/historysanjose
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/historysanjosevideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/historysanjose
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/history-san-jose
• Instagraminstagram.com/historysanjose
• TikToktiktok.com/@historysanjose

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about History San José