The purpose of this Fund is to support the ongoing operations of the Woodside Community Museum.

Where your donations go:

Donations to the Museum fund are used for ongoing historical projects, maintaining the archives and the creation of new exhibits. The Museum is staffed by the Woodside History Committee and a part-time archivist.

The Community Museum is housed in the former Mathisen Farmhouse. It is a good example of adaptive reuse of an historic structure and serves as a model for preservation in Woodside. Exhibits in the Museum are rotated periodically and feature various topics from the Town’s past. Previous exhibits include Native Americans, Equestrian Heritage and Blacksmithing. In 2017 a permanent timeline was installed to highlight significant dates throughout the history of Woodside.

The most recent exhibit featured the history of winemaking in the woodside area. A forthcoming exhibit will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the woodside fire protection district.

One community outreach program is the annual presentation of the Historic Preservation Award when a plaque is awarded to residents who have restored, repaired or saved an historic structure. Past awards include large and small projects: one of the original village houses, a set of brick entry gates and an historic mansion. The awards are given in May during National Preservation Month.

Another program is the oral history project. Long-time residents are interviewed, and their memories of the Town are recorded and transcribed for future reference.

The History Committee also helps maintain the Town’s archives, which are available to residents and the general public for historical research.

With additional funds, the History Committee could expand its oral history project, change the Museum’s exhibits more frequently, and reach out to a broader audience in and around the Woodside Community.

How you can help:

Interested volunteers are invited to help with a variety of projects. If you don’t have time to volunteer but would still like to help, donations to the Woodside Community Museum are always appreciated!

Anyone with historic photographs and documents pertaining to the Town are encouraged to donate or loan these materials to the Museum to help expand our archival collections.

The Museum is located in Town Center and is open to the public on the first and third Saturday from 1pm to 3 pm or by special appointment.

The Woodside Community Museum is a valuable resource for documenting, maintaining and sharing the evolving history of this unique place.

Contact information:

Museum Office:
650-851-1294

Email