New Zoom Lecture: "Patchwork History The People's Bicentennial Quilt"

The Saratoga Historical foundation Is featuring "Patchwork History-- the People's Bicentennial Quilt" a lecture by Connie Young Yu. The quit was created for the bicentennial. In 1976. Each woman was asked to create a square for the quilt that meant something to her. The square was hand sewn , made of cotton pieces and measured 71 inches by 129 inches. Each square was created by a different woman. Topics were varied — Harpers ferry, Equal Schooling for the South, and Women Hold Up Half the Sky to mention a few. The quilt is on display at the International Quilt Study Center Museum in Nebraska. For the blurb about the talk: "Patchwork History," by Connie Young Yu, published in 2010 by the Saratoga Historical Foundation, is the revised version of a book titled The People's Bicentennial Quilt. It is about a quilt made by a group of women from diverse backgrounds in celebration of the Bicentennial, 1976, with historical background on each square. Connie will discuss the themes of the People's Bicentennial Quilt as we approach the 250^th anniversary of our nation.

The talk will be on Zoom on April 22 at 7:00 PM and can be seen by clicking on the link below. The talk is free and open to the public.

Click here to join the lecture.

The Saratoga Historical Foundation can be reached by going up to www.saratogahistory.com or calling 408-867-4311.

New Zoom Lecture from the Saratoga Historical Foundation

The Saratoga Historical Foundation will present a Zoom lecture on March 11 at 7 PM - free and open to the public.

Author Craig Harwood will present "Bridget's Gambit for Survival and Prosperity in the Gold Rush era in California." The talk highlights the life and times of Bridget Evoy who, along with two daughters formed a potent and diverse entrepreneurial force in Gold Rush California. These women broke glass ceilings in the fields of real estate and commerce in the Sacramento Valley Motherlode region and the Bay Area Region. March is heritage month for recognizing notable women.

Craig Harwood is an accomplished author who co-authored the Quest for Flight as well as author of other articles. He has been an engineering biologist for 35 years.

Click here to join the lecture.

The Saratoga Historical Foundation can be reached by going up to www.saratogahistory.com or calling 408-867-4311.

"The Spirit of the Holidays Around the World" exhibit now open

"The Spirit of the Holidays Around the World" highlights the many ways countries around the world celebrate. Hang on to your passport and travel via exhibit cases at the Saratoga History Museum to see the many countries showcased in the exhibit. The exhibit is open now and will run through the end of January.

Special cookie and lemonade reception on Friday, November 28 from 1-4.

The holidays we celebrate and traditions we practice are a significant part of what binds our families and cultures. What holidays from around the world does your family celebrate, and what are your family's unique traditions? From Diwali to Chinese New Year to Three Kings day-- you'll learn something new! Come to the museum and learn about some of the holidays. Create a deeper bond with your past, present, and future family by preserving your family traditions from holidays around the world.

The Museum gift shop will feature colorful postcards, local history books and a few surprises. including an early look at wonderful water color paintings by Saratoga Artist Kay Duffy, just in time for Christmas shopping. Come do your Christmas shopping on November 28. The museum is open from 1-4 Friday, 10-4 on Saturday and 1-4 on Sunday.

For more information go to www.saratogahistory.com or call 408-867-4311. The Saratoga History Museum is located at 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road in Saratoga.

Click Here to watch the recording of this March 25, 2025 presentation.

Why is "Silicon Valley" located here, in California? The story goes back to the early 1910's, to local ham radio operators trying to break RCA tube patents, angel investors, the sinking of the Titanic, Fred Terman and Stanford University, local invention of high-power tubes, WWII and radar, and the San Francisco Bay Area infrastructure that developed. These factors determined that the semiconductor and IC industries would be located in the Santa Clara Valley, and that the Valley would remain the world's innovation center as new technologies emerged -- computers, storage, software, search, biotech, virtual reality, autonomous vehicles and now artificial intelligence -- and it would become the model for innovation worldwide.

Paul Wesling, an IEEE Life Fellow, has observed the Valley for decades as an engineer, executive, resident and educator. In this non-technical presentation, he provides the colorful history of technology development that began in Palo Alto, then spread across the Santa Clara Valley during and following WWII.

Free Activities

Explore our Pioneer Living program for 3rd-5th grades, and take a walk around Saratoga to spot Bats and Other Wildlife using these pictures.

Pioneer Living.

Bats and Other Wildlife in Saratoga.

The attached presentation gives a quick overview on the roles of a blacksmith in 1850 as well as the blacksmiths that once worked in Saratoga. The information was given in a presentation to the Saratoga Foothill Club as well as was part of a display in the Saratoga Library lobby.

Click here for the presentation: The History of Saratoga Blacksmiths

Join or Renew your Membership Today! Or make a Donation!

Support local history and the museum today. The Saratoga Historical Foundation invites you to join, renew your membership or make a dontaion today.

Click on this link to complete your membership application on line.
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