Historic Resources

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Historic Preservation Resources

The below resources provide historical preservation insight and inspiration at the local, regional, state and national levels.

City of Palo Alto

  • PAST - Palo Alto Stanford Heritage is a nonprofit organization supporting the preservation of the historic architecture, neighborhoods, and character of the greater Palo Alto-Stanford area through informed citizen involvement and education.
  • PAHA - The Palo Alto Historical Association's mission is to collect, preserve and make available to the public information about the history of Palo Alto.
  • MOAH - The Museum of American Heritage is the Bay Area's only museum exclusively dedicated to the history of technological innovation from 1750 to 1950.  Originally opened in 1990, MOAH relocated to the historic Williams House in downtown Palo Alto in 1997.
  • Palo Alto History - Palo Alto History is dedicated to the stories and photographs of Palo Alto's past. Take a look back at the history of the El Palo Alto Tree, relive the political rumble that was the 1967 Palo Alto City Council recall elections, celebrate the history and renovation of Stanford Theatre and much more.
  • The Stanford Theater Foundation - The Stanford Theatre Foundation is dedicated to bringing back the authentic movie-going experience of Hollywood's Golden Age.  A mighty Wurlitzer theater organ can still be heard during intermissions.
  • Local Architects and Builders
  • Historic Photos
  • Historic Newspapers - The Palo Alto City Library Digital Collection has several searchable, historic newspaper archives and the Stanford Daily has also been archived.
  • Dona Juana Briones de Miranda - Learn more about the life of this significant figure in California's past.
  • Palo Alto City Library Local History Resources
  • PAHM - The Palo Alto History Museum is a private nonprofit organization that is developing the first history museum for the Palo Alto and Stanford community.
  • SHS - The Stanford Historical Society was founded in 1976 to encourage the study and understanding of Stanford University's history and the ideals of the University's founders.
  • A History of Stanford

Santa Clara County

Bay Area

State of California

  • OHP - The mission of the Office of Historic Preservation and the State Historical Resources Commission (SHRC) is to provide leadership and promote the preservation of California's irreplaceable and diverse cultural heritage.
  • CPF - The California Preservation Foundation provides statewide leadership, advocacy and education to ensure the protection of California's diverse cultural heritage and historic places.
  • CEQA Basics – Learn the ground rules for environmental planning and preservation with this overview of California’s Environmental Quality Act.
  • State Historic Building Code – Discover the dos and don’ts of historic preservation state-wide.
  • Listed California Historical Resources – Explore California’s greatest historic treasures. You may be surprised to find that many of them lie right here in Palo Alto and the Bay Area.
  • CHS - The California Historical Society, founded in 1871, is a nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire and empower people to make California's richly diverse past a meaningful part of their contemporary lives.
  • Eichler Network - Since 1993, the Eichler Network has been dedicated to supporting the lifestyle of the thousands of homeowners in Northern and Southern California who own and enjoy an "Eichler" home.
  • ADSC - The Art Deco Society of California's aims to increase public awareness of this unique period's art, architecture, music, design and other forms of popular culture.

National