To find out what we’ve been up to, please see our most recent newsletter and check out our Facebook page.
Questions? Call us at 510-623-7907 or email us at info@museumoflocalhistory.org
Walking Tour Schedule 2025
10 am meet at Alvarado Elementary School
at 31100 Fredi Street, Alvarado District of Union City
June: Irvington Walking Tour – Saturday, June 21
10 am meet at Irvington Plaza Park at
4000 Bay Street, Irvington District of Fremont
July: Niles Town Walking Tour – Saturday, July 26
11 am meet at Essanay Film Museum at 37417 Niles Blvd.
(hosted by Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, Fremont)
August: Decoto Bike Tour – Saturday, August 16
10 am in the parking lot of Dry Creek / Pioneer Regional Park at
100 May Road in Union City
September:
TBD
All ages are welcome.
Free – with donations gladly accepted.
Rain or shine – tours go on.
Download flyer
Have questions about historic walking tours? Call us at 510-623-7907 or email us at info@museumoflocalhistory.org.
Museum Display at the Union City Library
Visit the Union City Library to see our NEW history display, May 1-29, 2025.
Washington Township Museum of Local History (and Archives)
The Museum and California native garden is open weekly on Wednesdays & Fridays, and monthly on the 2nd Saturday & Sunday, as well as the 4th Sunday. All hours are 10 am – 4 pm.
Suggested donation: $2 per visitor / $5 per family.
Museum members and children 5 and under are always FREE.
We are located at 190 Anza Street in the Mission San Jose district of Fremont.
Questions? Want to book a private tour or see the museum when we are not scheduled to be open? Let’s talk! Call us at 510-623-7907 or email us at info@museumoflocalhistory.org. Thank you!
- May 2025
Open on Wednesdays from 10 am – 4 pm: May 7, 14, 21, 28
Open on Fridays from 10 am – 4 pm: May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Open on Saturday 10 am – 4 pm: May 10
No open Sundays in May – closed for Mother’s Day and Memorial Day Weekend
- June 2025
Open on Wednesdays from 10 am – 4 pm: June 4, 11, 18, 25
Open on Fridays from 10 am – 4 pm: June 6, 13, 20, 27
Open on Saturday 10 am – 4 pm: June 14
Open on Sundays 10am – 4pm: June 8 and 22
- July 2025
Open on Wednesdays from 10 am – 4 pm: July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Open on Fridays from 10 am – 4 pm: July 11, 18, 25 (closed July 4)
Open on Saturday 10 am – 4 pm: July 12
Open on Sundays 10am – 4pm: July 13 and 27
Rancho Higuera Historical Park
Visit Rancho Higuera Historical Park and its beautifully restored adobe!
Open Dates & Times: 10 am – 12 noon on the 2nd Saturday of each month (April through August ONLY), weather permitting.
Open Dates for 2025
Saturday, 4/12 – 10am – 12pm
Saturday, 5/10 – CLOSED
Saturday, 5/17 – 10am – 2pm – 4th Grade Day at the Rancho, note extended hours.
Saturday, 6/14 – 10am – 12pm
Saturday, 7/12 – 10am – 12pm
Saturday, 8/09 – 10am – 12pm
*The Rancho may remain open until 1:00 or 2:00 pm, depending on visitor levels. Please contact Dianne at 510/673-4813 if planning your arrival for after 12 pm.
Guests are invited to visit the Galindo-Higuera adobe, located on the Rancho del Agua Caliente. This rancho was awarded to Fulgencio Higuera in 1839 by then Governor Juan B. Alvarado. At the time, this land consisted of 9,563 acres or 15 square miles, and it supported 11,000 head of cattle and several hundred horses.
Our guests can still enjoy the verdant green hills and can imagine what it looked like with no fences, and with rancho cattle dotting the hillsides.
140 years later, in 1979, the adobe was falling down. Historians, architects, preservationists, and archaeologists agreed that the adobe was significant and worth saving; and thus, the restoration began. A total of 7,500 bricks had to be made to replace those that were missing.
Inside the building now are displays that describe the hide and tallow trade, a video that shows how the land was used from the Ohlone period to the restoration, as well as a display of Ohlone artifacts.
This adobe and its current 20 acres represent an important chapter in Spanish-Mexican history in California, and we at the Washington Township Museum of Local History are happy to share this gem with you.
Special activities for children (and adults): brick making, branding with paint, design-a-brand, corn husk and/or clothespin dollmaking, candle dipping, play horseshoes.
Suggested donation: $2 per visitor / $5 per family
Museum members and children 5 and under are always FREE
The park is located at 47300 Rancho Higuera Rd. in Fremont.
Please park at street level and walk up. Handicapped parking is available.
Visit this culturally significant site, with a history extending back to Fulgencio Higuera a descendent of Jose Higuera who came to California from Spain on the de Anza expedition (1775-1776). The original adobe home was constructed in 1840.
Rancho Higuera Historical Park hosts field trips during the standard school year. The park is closed to the public September through March.
Saturday, 4/12 – 10am – 12pm
Saturday, 5/10 – CLOSED
Saturday, 5/17 – 10am – 2pm – 4th Grade Day at the Rancho, note extended hours.
Saturday, 6/14 – 10am – 12pm
Saturday, 7/12 – 10am – 12pm
Saturday, 8/09 – 10am – 12pm
*The Rancho may remain open until 1:00 or 2:00 pm, depending on visitor levels. Please contact Dianne at 510/673-4813 if planning your arrival for after 12 pm.
Questions? Want to book a private tour or see the grounds when we are not scheduled to be open? Let’s talk! Call us at 510-623-7907 or email us at info@museumoflocalhistory.org.
