Los Gatos History Project: Uncovering Untold Stories
- NUMU New Museum Los Gatos 106 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 United States (map)
As of September 2022, newly cataloged collections items are on view. These new displays present a selection of objects that pertain to special occasions, the history of cameras, and the history of service in Los Gatos. Sign up for the Los Gatos History Project newsletter for updates.
The Los Gatos History Project is NUMU’s unprecedented effort to catalog and dive deeper into its permanent collection. This exhibition, the first to come out of the project, will present a selection of objects that have given the museum more questions than answers. By taking a critical look at these objects and the stories they tell, the exhibition will prompt visitors to ask: Who made these objects? Why did the museum collect them? What can we learn from them? And whose stories are missing? Through this exhibition, visitors will gain a greater understanding of museum collecting practices, and a greater appreciation for the hidden complexities of Los Gatos history.
Guest curated by Allison Railo
This exhibition can be found in the Los Gatos History Hall.
Please note that the service we use to host our website requires that we put an end date on exhibitions, but this exhibition is open indefinitely, until further notice. Please disregard the listed end date.
Upcoming Programs + Events Featuring the Los Gatos History Project
Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!
Did you know Yehudi Menuhin, the world-renowned violinist, lived in Los Gatos? Join us for a talk by musician Robert Huguenor, as we learn about Menuhin's life and music.
Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!
Los Gatos was a premier agricultural town for many decades, and the LG Cannery was a major employer - join us for a talk about this fascinating chapter of LG history.
Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!
The Beat poets were legendary, and Neal Cassady lived right here in Los Gatos. Join us for a talk by "Los Gatan" publisher, Dan Pulcano, as he shares his personal reminiscences of Cassady and the Beats.
Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!
Join us for a festive night at the museum with additional open hours & free admission! As a featured stop along the Los Gatos Chamber's Holiday Trolley route, we'll be staying open late to spread some holiday cheer. This is a fun family tradition with light refreshments, holiday-themed crafts, music, and lots of local art and history!
Ming Quong, a local historic school for Chinese girls, was an iconic part of Los Gatos history, and we are honored to have Janet Chang, a former resident of Ming Quong, join us to share her memories.
Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!
Los Gatos has experienced home-grown Olympians, pro-athletes, & wacky local sporting events. Come and share your own stories!
Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!
Celebrate John Steinbeck's 125th birthday with us and hear about his history with Los Gatos! Featuring guest speaker, Peter Van Coutren, Archivist, Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies, SJSU.
Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!
Long before prohibition, these pioneering women were championing social reform, including women’s suffrage and banning alcohol in Los Gatos.
Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!
What did Los Gatans do for fun in the days before video games & pickleball? Join us for a history talk to find out!
Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!
Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!
Why do we have a University Avenue when there is no university in sight? Who is Oka Road named after? Is Kennedy Road named after JFK? Come and learn the history of some of our iconic street names.
Did you know that over 100 years ago, there was a film studio in LG making silent movies right here in town?
LG was incorporated in August 1887. What led to that, and what was the town like back then?
It’s well-known that John Steinbeck lived here, but many notable authors, including Jack London and Mark Twain, spent time here, too!
In conjunction with the anniversary of the building of Lexington Dam and a special NUMU exhibit, come and learn about the dam, fights over water rights in the early days of LG, and what it was like when LG Creek ran uninhibited through town.
The Los Gatos History Project is made possible in part by grants from the County of Santa Clara’s Historic Grant Program and the Town of Los Gatos.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [MA-251560-OMS-22]
