Volunteer Opportunities with CHSM
We are always striving to offer more to our community and improve our operations. To do so, we rely on volunteers with expertise and experience to assist our staff and Board of Directors. Find opportunities for volunteering with the Cupertino Historical Society & Museum at the link below.
Cupertino Stories Mayor's Initiative
Cupertino Stories is a digital effort allowing everyone to help create history by sharing their Cupertino stories online. This citywide effort is made possible by a collaboration across the Cupertino Library Foundation, Cupertino Historic Society, Cupertino Mayor Liang Chao, and local residents. Anyone who has lived, worked, been involved, or done business in Cupertino is welcome to share their Cupertino story.
Upcoming Events & Exhibits Near Cupertino:
Kaiser Permanente Lecture
Saratoga Historical Foundation
April 23, 2025 7PM
Zoom - Click Here to Join
Meeting ID: 852 3542 1721
Passcode: 120700
Lecture on the History of the Kaiser Permanente Quarry and Cement Plant by Ted Atlas, historian.
The story begins in 1939 as Henry Kaiser begins to learn about making cement.
Just as he knew nothing about making cement and no capability to do so,
Henry Kaiser had to go to the library to learn ship building terms and no shipyard,
In 1940 the Chemical Engineering Division of the Todd California Shipbuilding Corp.,
began construction on a magnesium plant adjacent to the Permanente Cement Plant.
2000 men worked around the clock to build the plant which operated until the end of the War.
In 1948 Kaiser purchased an aluminum rolling plant, taken from Germany in war reparations,
and installed it at Permanente. It was the only plant capable of making aluminum foil west of the Mississippi.
Kaiser sponsored the television shows, Hawaiian Eye and Maverick to promote Kaiser Quilted aluminum foil,
produced at the Permanente plant, into third in sales behind Reynolds and Alcoa.
Ted Atlas is a native of San Jose and 4th-generation Californian.
He returned to San Jose after earning a BA in Geography from UCLA.
He is retired from the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department.
While a deputy Sheriff, he was the first School Resource Officer assigned to Saratoga.
Concurrent to his full-time career, he worked for 36 years in game day operations at San Francisco 49er games.
This led him to write Candlestick Park, an illustrated history of the stadium published by Arcadia Publishing.
He continues to write and publish articles of local historical interest.
Cherry Blossom Festival
April 26-27, 2025 10 AM - 5:30 PM
10185 North Stelling Road, Cupertino
Quinlan Community Center and Memorial Park
Free admission, free parking at DeAnza College
Join us for the 41st annual Cherry Blossom Festival, with many indoor and outdoor attractions celebrating Japanese culture and the spring season!
Browse the jewelry, clothing, home decor, and Japanese gifts of arts and crafts vendors.
See Japanese cultural exhibits: ikebana, swords, bonsai, suiseki, and koi.
Sample delicious Japanese food: sushi, teriyaki chicken, gyoza, beer, and sake.
Watch performances of taiko drums, dancing, martial arts, and musical groups.
Children's activities and play areas include a petting zoo and pony rides.
Learn from Japanese cultural demonstrations of a tea ceremony, origami, calligraphy, and soroban.
Learn more
Blacksmith Demonstration
April 26, 2025 11 AM - 3 PM
Baer Blacksmith Shop
McClellan Ranch Preserve
22221 McClellan Road, Cupertino
Free admission and parking
As part of a long term loan and partnership with the park, the restored Baer Blacksmith Shop at McClellan Ranch has most of the museum's collection of blacksmithing artifacts.
Come and learn a bit about early Cupertino history and the craft of blacksmithing.
Saratoga Blossom Festival
Saratoga Historical Foundation
May 17, 2025 10 AM to 4 PM
Heritage Orchard and Civic Center Courtyard
13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga
Free parking, Free admission
Extra parking at West Valley College lot 4
The festival features arts and crafts, live music, City and local organizations, vintage cars and lots of children's activities.
The historic event will have unique crafts from handmade pillows, exotic bath items, one of a kind jewelry, blown glass, handmade cards and more.
If you are interested in gardening the Master Gardeners will be on hand to give advice.
Over 8 bands will keep you toe tapping to old time music, jazz, soft rock, cowpoke music and more. The musicians will be located in the orchard and near the Warner Hutton House.
And there's more with an opportunity to see antique cars and talk to the owners.
A petting zoo will delight people of all ages. The fire fighters will also have a display and chance to climb on the truck.
A tai chi group will show you how to exercise and meditate. And of course, gourmet food trucks will also be on hand.
The Blossom Festival is a historic festival originating in 1900 when this area was known as the Valley of the Heart's Delight and running until WW 2.
It was brought back by the Saratoga Historical Foundation 10 years ago and continues to delight the community.
CHSM EXHIBIT: GADGETS GALORE! Transforming the American Household
On View February 7, 2025 - May 9, 2025
10185 North Stelling Road, Cupertino
(located inside the Quinlan Community Center)
Gadgets Galore! a collaboration between Exhibit Envoy and the Cupertino Historical Society & Museum is open to the public from February 7th to March 21st.
The exhibit tells the story of 20th and 21st century home life - from chores to personal care to entertainment - through the evolution of household tools, machines, and gadgets.
EXHIBIT: “HOME ENTERTAINMENT OF THE LAST CENTURY”
Sunnyvale Historical Society & Museum
What did people do for entertainment before gadgets and electronics? Well, they played games, listened to the radio, invited friends, went to the movies and concerts, or played music themselves. Many artifacts will come out of storage to show activities people found amusing in the early 20th century. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the opening of this exhibit will be slightly delayed to mid-February. Look for updates on Facebook and the Sunnyvale Historical Society website.
EXHIBIT: “MAKING CONNECTIONS: STORIES FROM THE LAND”
Los Altos History Museum
Permanent Exhibit
Main Gallery, Los Altos History Museum
51 South San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA
Making Connections: Stories from the Land delivers an immersive, interactive multimedia experience of local history. Take a tour through the hills, creeks, valley and town as you learn about the events that transformed the landscape and the people who shaped this area.
EXHIBIT: “MEET THE SMITHS”
Los Altos History Museum
Permanent Exhibit
Smith House, Los Altos History Museum
51 South San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA
Through a collection of photos and narrative, this exhibit brings to life the fascinating story of J. Gilbert Smith, his wife, Margaret, and his mother, Mary, who once called this house their home.