San Mateo County Historical Association

What San Mateo County Historical Association does

The San Mateo County Historical Association (SMCHA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1935 and headquartered at the historic 1910 County Courthouse in Redwood City, California. It operates three physical historical sites — the San Mateo County History Museum (Redwood City), the Sánchez Adobe Historic Site (Pacifica, built 1842–1846), and the Woodside Store Historic Site (Woodside, built 1854) — along with the Folger Stable used for school programs. The Association curates a collection of approximately 420,000 historic items, an archive of 300,000+ photographs and negatives, and an Online Collections Database with 6,447 cataloged objects accessible via PastPerfect Online. Educational programming includes K-12 school programs at multiple sites, the Traveling Trunks mobile classroom program, Victorian Days Walking Tours, and the monthly Courthouse Docket lecture series in Historic Courtroom A. SMCHA also publishes the La Peninsula scholarly journal twice yearly and has maintained American Alliance of Museums accreditation continuously since 1972, placing it in the less-than-5% cohort of U.S. museums with this credential.

SMCHA's revenue model is diversified across five streams: (1) one-time museum admissions ($6 adults / $4 seniors & students / free for children 5 and under), (2) one-time facility rentals for weddings, corporate events, and private functions (rates from $400/hr meeting rooms up to $5,000 for full courthouse use), (3) recurring membership subscriptions across seven tiers ($35 Senior to $1,000 Curator) that include reciprocal access to 880+ NARM and 270+ Time Travelers institutions, (4) one-time retail through the Museum Store and the volunteer-operated Encore Books on the Square used-bookstore, and (5) donations and contributions — including a general annual campaign contributing approximately 33% of the operating budget, a $23M capital campaign ($17.4M raised), corporate sponsorships such as the Monterra Credit Union–sponsored Free First Fridays, and planned giving through the Dr. Stanger Legacy Society. The institution is governed by a 30+ member Board of Directors led by Chairman Shawn DeLuna, with Mitch Postel as President and Carmen Blair as Deputy Director. Operating geographies are limited to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Name

San Mateo County Historical Association

Legal name

San Mateo County Historical Association

Website

https://historysmc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The San Mateo County Historical Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates three historic sites in California's San Mateo County — the History Museum in a 1910 courthouse, Sánchez Adobe, and the Woodside Store — alongside K-12 school programs, archives of 420,000 items, and the La Peninsula scholarly journal, serving families, students, researchers, and event hosts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Museum and Cultural Heritage Services

NAICS

Historical Sites (71212), Historical Sites (712120), Libraries and Archives (519210), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC), Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Historical museum services
• Educational school programs
• Archival research services
• Historic event venue rental
• Cultural heritage preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Redwood City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admissions: Revenue from admission fees: Adults $6, Seniors & Students $4, Children 5 and under free
2. Facility Rentals: Venue rental of historic courthouse spaces for weddings, corporate events, and private functions. Pricing ranges from $400/hr (meeting rooms) to $5,000 for entire courthouse for 4-8 hours
3. Membership Subscriptions: Annual memberships from $35 (Senior) to $1,000 (Curator level) providing free admission, newsletter subscriptions, and reciprocal museum benefits through NARM and Time Travelers programs
4. Retail Operations: Museum Store and Encore Books on the Square (used bookstore open Saturdays) generating merchandise and book sales revenue
5. Donations and Contributions: General donations, annual campaign (33% of annual budget), capital campaign ($23M goal), Dr. Stanger Legacy Society planned giving, and corporate sponsorships

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The San Mateo County Historical Association operates three historic sites—the San Mateo County History Museum housed in the 1910 County Courthouse in Redwood City, the Sánchez Adobe Historic Site in Pacifica, and the Woodside Store Historic Site in Woodside—delivering museum exhibits, K-12 educational programs, archival research access, and historic venue rentals. It also publishes the La Peninsula scholarly journal, operates a Museum Store and used bookstore (Encore Books), and runs membership, donations, and capital campaign programs supporting preservation of 420,000+ historic items.

Product overview

The San Mateo County Historical Association operates a portfolio of historical museums, sites, and educational programs centered on preserving and interpreting the Peninsula's history. The core offering includes the San Mateo County History Museum (housed in the 1910 County Courthouse) featuring interactive exhibits and the Grand Rotunda event venue; the Sánchez Adobe Historic Site and Woodside Store Historic Site (two preserved historical structures); and the SMCHA Archives containing over 6,000 items. Educational programming includes school programs at multiple locations, the Traveling Trunks mobile program, Courthouse Docket monthly lectures, and Victorian Days Walking Tours. The Association publishes the scholarly journal La Peninsula, operates the Museum Store and Encore Books on the Square, and offers membership with reciprocal benefits. Major expansion projects underway include the Taube Family Carriage House and Automobile Gallery (opening November 2026) and Natural History Gallery. The Online Collections Database provides public access to digital holdings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Peninsula: A scholarly journal published twice a year covering stories of San Mateo County's past, available to members and researchers in the Archives (1941-present)
• History Museum
• Peninsula Innovators Changing the World

Products and services

• San Mateo County History Museum Main museum housed in the 1910 County Courthouse featuring interactive exhibits exploring the county's history from Native American inhabitants to today, with a stained glass dome, mosaic tile floor, and multiple galleries.
• Sánchez Adobe Historic Site Historic site in Pacifica featuring the first three periods of California history: Ohlone Indian, Spanish, and Mexican; the second oldest building in the county, built between 1842-1846 by Francisco Sánchez. Free admission.
• Woodside Store Historic Site Restored 1854 general store in Woodside that served the Peninsula's lumber industry; community gathering spot, stagecoach stop, and former U.S. Post Office.
• School Programs Educational programs for K-12 students including Getting from Here to There (transportation history), People from Many Places (immigration), Providing Plenty, Growth and Conflict, and General Tours, available at History Museum, Sánchez Adobe, Woodside Store, and Folger Stable.
• SMCHA Archives Research facility containing 727 archives, 2,073 photos, 3,647 objects, plus over 300,000 photographs and negatives dating from 1830 to present, accessible to researchers.
• La Peninsula Scholarly journal published twice yearly covering San Mateo County's colorful stories and history, available to researchers in the Archives and recent issues purchasable at the Museum Store.
• Online Collections Database Digital platform providing online access to the museum's collection of 6,447+ items including 727 archives, 2,073 photographs, and 3,647 objects for research purposes.
• Museum Store Gift shop offering books, DVDs, and memorabilia at the History Museum with both physical and online store options.
• Encore Books on the Square Used bookstore operated by volunteers at the History Museum Lower Level, open Saturdays 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., with proceeds supporting Association activities.
• Event Rentals Venue rental service at the History Museum offering Grand Rotunda, Courtroom A, Atkinson Meeting Room, and Catering Kitchen for weddings, corporate events, and private functions.
• Membership Programs Annual membership tiers including Senior ($35), Educator ($40), Individual ($50), Family ($100), Archivist ($250), Historian ($500), and Curator ($1,000), with free admission, newsletter subscriptions, and reciprocal museum benefits through NARM and Time Travelers programs.
• Traveling Trunks Program Mobile educational resource bringing primary source documents and reproductions from the Archives to classrooms for hands-on local history learning.
• Victorian Days Walking Tours Guided walking tours exploring local history through the Victorian era across multiple Peninsula communities with docent-led experiences.
• Courthouse Docket Monthly series of presentations held in Historic Courtroom A featuring lectures, presentations, and reenactments exploring different aspects of local history.
• Peninsula Innovators Changing the World Exhibit Featured exhibit in the J. Burgess Jamieson Gallery celebrating trailblazers who lived, worked, or studied in San Mateo County, featuring a Digital Timeline and Paul Cook Theater of Innovation with films on local innovators.
• Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame Hall of Fame honoring local legends who have inspired others with athletic ability, coaching skills, and sports management, located at the History Museum with annual induction ceremonies.
• History Makers Award Annual event honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to regional history.
• Taube Family Carriage House and Automobile Gallery 15,000-square-foot, three-story facility adjacent to the History Museum showcasing historic horse-drawn carriages (including the Brewster collection) and automobiles, featuring a Corey Room rooftop terrace for events up to 300 persons.
• Natural History Gallery 2,700-square-foot gallery showcasing paleontological specimens including fossils, mammoths, and the rare Neoparadoxia, representing the museum's first major venture into natural sciences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 60,000+ adults, children and families annually with educational programming
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Monterra Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Free First Fridays program, providing free museum admission on the first Friday of each month to increase community accessibility.
• NARM (North American Reciprocal Museum)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Membership Level and above includes NARM reciprocal membership, providing free admission at over 880 member institutions including art, cultural and history museums.
• Time TravelerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Membership Level and above includes Time Travelers reciprocal membership for free admission at 270+ museums in the USA (33 in California).
• Colma Community CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner venue for Victorian Days Walking Tours in Colma, hosting tours about local cemetery history and Annie Darbee's planned cemetery project.
• Pacifica Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Sharp Park Victorian Days Walking Tours at Pacifica Coastside Museum location.
• San Mateo Heritage AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for San Mateo Victorian Days Walking Tours, providing docent-led architectural tours of the National Register Eligible Downtown Historic District.
• Casa Círculo CulturalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Día de los Muertos celebrations at the History Museum, with craft activities for kids and Festival of the Altars in Courtroom A.
• Blue Star MuseumsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration among National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and Department of Defense offering free admission to service members and their families from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day.
• SamTransminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic transit provider offering free passes for school field trips to increase accessibility for schools.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Burlingame Historical Society: Burlingame Historical Society is a small local heritage organization on the San Francisco Peninsula — comparable as a San Mateo County-adjacent volunteer-driven historical society with archives, walking tours, and community programming.
• Filoli Historic House & Garden: Filoli is a historic estate in Woodside, California that operates as a museum, garden, and event venue. Comparable to SMCHA as a Bay Area heritage operator monetizing facility rentals and admissions, though with a more upscale event-rentals focus.
• Computer History Museum: Computer History Museum in Mountain View is a Bay Area themed museum with major exhibits, education programs, and event rentals. Comparable as a Silicon Valley heritage institution monetizing both admissions and corporate event space.
• Napa Valley Museum: Napa Valley Museum is a regional history and cultural museum in the Bay Area/Northern California region offering exhibits, education programs, and events. Comparable as a small California heritage museum with diversified programming and donor-supported operations.

Direct peers

• Pacifica Coastside Museum: Pacifica Coastside Museum is a local historical society in Pacifica — explicitly partnered with SMCHA on Victorian Days walking tours — and directly comparable as a small, volunteer-driven Bay Area heritage site operator.
• Hayward Area Historical Society: Hayward Area Historical Society operates the Hayward Area Museum of History and Culture plus historic sites — a comparable small East Bay county/area historical association with museums, school programs, and volunteer-driven operations.
• San Francisco Historical Society: San Francisco Historical Society curates programs, exhibitions, and publications on San Francisco history — a peer county/city-level history nonprofit with comparable programming, archival collections, and donor-supported membership model.
• California Historical Society: California Historical Society is a statewide heritage nonprofit operating a library/archives, exhibitions, and publications focused on California history — closely comparable to SMCHA as a membership- and donation-supported history organization with scholarly publishing.
• History San Jose: History San Jose operates the History Museum, Fallon House, and other historic sites in Santa Clara County — directly comparable as a neighboring county-level historical association running museums, historic structures, school programs, and archives in the Bay Area.

Broad incumbents

• Oakland Museum of California: Oakland Museum of California is a much larger multi-disciplinary museum covering California art, history, and natural sciences. Comparable in mission (California heritage interpretation) but a broad incumbent operating at significantly greater scale than SMCHA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/smchistmuseum
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCifGFmSt_XLR42g7pFeQfmw
• Facebookfacebook.com/smchistmuseum
• Instagraminstagram.com/smchistmuseum
• Pinterestpinterest.com/historymuseum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/san-mateo-county-historical-association

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 San Mateo County Historical Association