Association Of The Los Altos Historical Museum

THE LOS ALTOS HISTORY MUSEUM GATHERS AND PRESENTS ARTIFACTS AND STORIES TO BRIDGE THE PAST AND THE PRESENT BY FOSTERING THE CREATIVE ENERGY OF VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF TO PRODUCE ENGAGING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS THAT CHALLENGE ESTABLISHED NARRATIVES.

CHANGING EXHIBITION PRODUCTIONLOS ALTOS HISTORY MUSEUM MOUNTED A SERIES OF BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EXHIBITIONS DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR. OUR FIRST CHANGING EXHIBITION OF THIS FISCAL YEAR WAS "GOLD FEVER: UNTOLD STORIES OF THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH", AN EXHIBIT WE BORROWED FROM EXHIBIT ENVOY PRODUCED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA. IT WAS EXTREMELY POPULAR, AND WE HELD A SPECIAL PIONEER DAY EVENT AS PART OF THIS EXHIBIT. WE THEN MOUNTED OUR OWN EXHIBITION, "ANNIE KNAPP PAINTS: A LEGACY IN ART", WHICH WAS A RETROSPECTIVE OF THE MOST PROLIFIC LOCAL ARTIST OF LOCAL HISTORY SCENES. HER WELL-DOCUMENTED AND DELIGHTFUL DEPICTIONS OF LIFE IN THE AREA BEFORE 1950 INCLUDED SCENES FROM ALL THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES. IN FEBRUARY OF 2022, WE OPENED A PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION CALLED "EVERY WRINKLE TELLS A STORY: INTERTWINING LIVES", FEATURING THE PHOTOS OF RESIDENTS OF LOS ALTOS WHO HAD BEEN IN THE AREA SINCE 1960, PAIRED WITH VIDEOS AND TEXT ABOUT THEIR LIVES AND WHAT BROUGHT THEM TO LOS ALTOS.

PERMANENT EXHIBITION CONTENT DEVELOPMENTWITH A TALENTED GROUP OF OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS, LOS ALTOS HISTORY MUSEUM STAFF BEGAN THE PROCESS OF GATHERING PHOTOGRAPHS, TEXTS, STORIES, AND ARTIFACTS FOR INCLUSION IN THE PERMANENT EXHIBITION. THIS REQUIRED MANY HOURS OF RESEARCH AND MANY CONVERSATIONS AND MEETINGS INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY, INCLUDING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DIVERSITY ADVISORY GROUP AS WELL AS SPECIALIZED CONTENT GROUPS. THE EXTERNAL CONTRACTORS ALSO DEVELOPED EXHIBITION SCHEMATICS FOR ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS, AS WELL AS CREATING THE BESPOKE DIGITAL DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR THE INTERACTIVE TOUCHSCREENS THAT WILL ANCHOR THE USER EXPERIENCE FOR VISITORS TO THE NEW PERMANENT EXHIBITION.

EDUCATIONAL OUTREACHIN APRIL OF 2022, LOS ALTOS HISTORY MUSEUM WELCOMED BACK ALL OF THE LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT'S 3RD GRADE CLASSES. THESE TOURS REACH THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND REQUIRE THE DEDICATED TIME OF SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS; IN ADDITION, WE GAVE THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS SPECIAL PACKAGES WITH TAKE HOME ACTIVITIES FOR ADDED ENRICHMENT. IN MAY OF 2022, THE MUSEUM HAD TWO SPECIAL OUTREACH EFFORTS FOR FAMILIES AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: 4TH GRADE TOURS AND RANCHO DAY. RACHO DAY INCLUDED PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL MEXICAN-AMERICAN YOUTH DANCE TROOPS, AS WELL AS DISPLAYS OF HORSES AND HORSEMANSHIP (INCLUDING ROPE TRICKS!). THE 4TH GRADE TOURS REACHED HUNDREDS OF LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AS WE WELCOMED EVERYONE BACK FROM COVID SHUT DOWNS WITH ENGAGING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CALIFORNIA HISTORY.