San Mateo County History Museum

Few county museums get a building this grand. The San Mateo County History Museum occupies the old county courthouse in Redwood City, a 1910 temple of columns and stone topped by a stained glass dome. Inside, under that dome and across a restored mosaic tile floor, the galleries trace the Peninsula from its first Ohlone villages to the tech companies of today. A historic courtroom survives inside and hosts talks.

The museum is a short train ride from Palo Alto and sits on Courthouse Square, the plaza at the center of downtown Redwood City. That makes it easy to pair with lunch, a film or a stroll on Broadway. All hours and prices here come from the San Mateo County Historical Association's visit page, checked on November 2, 2026. They can change, so confirm before a special trip.

From courthouse to museum

San Mateo County has built four courthouses on this one block. The land was donated by Simon Mezes and the Argüello family, owners of Rancho de las Pulgas. The first courthouse went up in 1858 and lost its top floor in the 1868 earthquake. The county used the remaining floor until a new courthouse opened in 1882. People called that one the "Lady Justice" courthouse for the statue on its roof.

As the county grew it wanted something grander. A third courthouse was built just behind the second and finished shortly before the 1906 earthquake, which wrecked everything but its dome. Architect Glenn Allen then designed a fourth building around that surviving dome. He aimed for a look as impressive as San Francisco's City Hall. The result, in the Roman and Renaissance revival styles, opened on July 4, 1910. Locals nicknamed it the Temple of Justice.

In its early years the building held nearly all county government. The supervisors, the sheriff, the coroner, the tax collector, the district attorney and other county offices all worked under the dome. The county later hid the facade behind a boxy Fiscal Building added in 1939, then added a rear annex in 1941. Both were Works Progress Administration projects. By the 1990s the old courthouse no longer suited modern courts. The History Museum moved in during 1998. In 2005 the Fiscal Building came down and the original front portico was rebuilt, which is why the facade looks so crisp today.

Hours and admission for 2026

The museum takes part in several free and reduced admission programs that it lists on its website. Our free museum days guide explains how library passes and similar programs work around Palo Alto. The phone number is 650.299.0104. An accessible lift serves the building.

What to see inside

Start in the rotunda and look up. The stained glass dome is the building's showpiece and it photographs best on a bright day. Then work through the long-term galleries, which the association lists as follows:

• Peninsula Innovators Changing the World. The featured exhibit in 2026.
• San Mateo County's African American History.
• Land of Opportunity.
• Journey to Work.
• Nature's Bounty.
• Charles Parsons' Ships of the World. A gallery of model ships.
• Politics, Crime and Law Enforcement in San Mateo County.
• Courtroom A. The historic courtroom, also used for talks.
• Living the California Dream.
• Maverick's. Named for the big-wave surf break off the San Mateo coast.
• Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame.

The association describes the galleries as a walk through the Peninsula's story from its original Native American people to today. It also says the exhibits try to show how local history shaped the wider world and how the wider world shaped the county. In practice that means early ranchos, logging in the redwoods, the great estates, immigrant farmers, the railroads and the suburbs all get their turn before you reach the tech era.

Plan on 90 minutes to two hours for a full loop. If time is short, the rotunda, Courtroom A and the transportation gallery give a good sense of the place in under an hour.

The new Taube Family Carriage House

Beside the museum stands the Taube Family Carriage House and Automobile Gallery, a three-level building of about 15,000 square feet. When Lurline Matson Roth gave Filoli to the National Trust in 1975, her Brewster carriages were not part of the gift. They went to the History Museum instead, along with vehicles from other old Peninsula families. All of them sat in storage for about 40 years. The association's plans call for a ground floor automobile gallery, a carriage gallery with ten Brewster carriages and a rooftop terrace for events. Carriages began moving in during July 2026. The association's homepage promotes a "History in Motion" grand opening celebration on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. Its schedule lists music on Courthouse Square at 10 a.m., a ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m. and new exhibits, kids' crafts and pop-up talks from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check the association's site for regular gallery hours after the opening.

Getting there from Palo Alto

By Caltrain

This is the easiest way. Ride Caltrain north to Redwood City, about 6 minutes on most trains. The trip crosses two fare zones. From the station, walk a few blocks to Broadway and Courthouse Square. Our Redwood City station guide covers the platforms and exits.

By car or bike

Driving takes 15 to 20 minutes on El Camino Real or Highway 101 outside rush hour. The 2000 block of Broadway in front of the museum is closed to cars, so use one of the downtown public garages. Cyclists usually find Middlefield Road through Menlo Park and Atherton calmer than El Camino Real.

Tips for visiting with kids

• Download the activity book. The museum's free "Discover San Mateo County in the 1910s" booklet sends kids hunting for details from the year the courthouse opened.
• Aim for the interactive exhibits. The galleries were designed with touch screens and hands-on stations, which suit children of about 7 and up.
• Watch for Family Programs. The association runs crafts, activities and demonstrations for families during the year.
• Save energy for the square. Courthouse Square has fountains and open space for a break between galleries.
• Bring the stroller up. The accessible lift makes the upper floors manageable with small children.

Food nearby

Downtown Redwood City has dozens of restaurants within a few blocks. Three that we confirmed on their own websites in early November 2026:

• Philz Coffee at 2116 Broadway, about a block from the museum, for coffee before you go in.
• Mademoiselle Colette at 2401 Broadway, a French bakery and cafe. Its site lists Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Gourmet Haus Staudt at 2615 Broadway, a German beer garden and market with long weekend hours.

Our Redwood City food guide covers more choices, from pizza to Pakistani food.

Events and programs

The Courthouse Docket is a series of talks, presentations and reenactments held in Courtroom A, generally free with museum admission. Spring 2026 talks included a history of SFO on April 18 and a vintage fashion show from the association's clothing collection on May 30. Watch the Courthouse Docket page for the next date. The square outside hosts city concerts, movie nights and holiday events, so a weekend visit can turn into an evening downtown. Our Fox Theatre guide covers the historic stage across the street.

The association also runs two smaller historic sites that make good follow-ups: the 1854 Woodside Store and the Sánchez Adobe in Pacifica. Both are free.

Frequently asked questions