Saratoga Historical Foundation presents, "How Californians Saved Big Basin" on August 22 at 7:00 PM on Zoom. Author of "Big Basin Redwood Forest: California's Oldest State Park," Dr. Traci Bliss details in her lecture how and why a most unlikely coalition came together to change the trajectory of deforestation in California. She will share why 1900 marked a new era in our state history.

Hear the riveting story of how women journalists, Jesuit priests, Bay Area academics and the pillars of San Francisco Society joined forces to achieve an unimaginable victory for preservation.

Bliss will conclude her talk with an overview of the after effects of the 2020 CZU fire and the exciting plan for Big Basin's future. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Emerita Professor Dr. Traci Bliss retired early from her career in academia to write the true history of how the environmental movement began, fulfilling a promise she had made as a young child.

In addition to writing "Big Basin," Bliss has authored two other books about extraordinary public land: "Evergreen Cemetery of Santa Cruz" and "Santa Cruz's Seabright" with Randall Brown, She is a life member of the Society of California Pioneers, her family having arrived in Santa Cruz in the late 1840s.

Bliss earned her BA, MA and PhD from Stanford.

Join the lecture on Zoom by going to: How Californians Saved Big Basin
Zoom Meeting ID: 858 2757 7975
Passcode: 429853

The Saratoga History Museum is having a fundraiser for the Saratoga History Museum on Tuesday, June 20 at 11 AM to 3 PM. The event is held at the Saratoga Oaks Club House on 14626 Big Basin Way in Saratoga, CA. Join us for a game of Mah Jong. Meet some of your friends and neighbors!!

Tickets are $50.00 and include lunch and prizes. Reservations must be made by June 17.

To make a reservation, contact Marie LoPresto at marielopresto6@gmail.com.

As part of their lecture series, the Saratoga Historical Foundation presents Alice van Ommeren and Gail Unzelman who will share the story of the Paul Masson Winery through vintage postcards on June 20 at 7:00 PM. The program is free and open to the public.

For over a century, wineries have used postcards for advertising and marketing purposes. The presentation is based on the complete set of Paul Masson Winery postcards. They illustrate the winery's humble beginnings and capture its growth into a worldwide-renowned giant corporation. Paul Masson established his winery in Saratoga and was the first vintner to launch sparkling wine known as champagne in 1892.

At one time the Paul Masson Champagne Cellars located on Saratoga Avenue in Saratoga was the largest employer in Saratoga with 350 employees.

The program will take place on Zoom by going up to: Paul Masson Winery
Zoom Meeting ID: 854 1415 5237
Passcode: 900640

Gail Unzelman is a wine historian and longtime first-class postcard collector of California wine history. She has the most extensive collection of California wine postcards in the world. Alice van Ommeren is a wine data researcher and an avid postcard collector with several history books.

For more information go up to: http://www.saratogahistory.com or call 408-867-4311.

The Saratoga Historical Foundation presents, "Hearts, Leprechauns, and Fools", a new exhibit explores the impact traditions have on the fabric of the community. The exhibit covers over 30 holidays and associated traditions. The exhibit opens on February 11 and ends In June.

Traditions are the stories, beliefs, customs and routines that pass to us from older generations. They have been passed down, in the hope of keeping the tradition alive until the next coming generations. Many traditions originated in Europe and were brought to the US by immigrants. Some have roots in religion. Mother's Day is a tradition that originated in the US by a woman who wanted mothers to be recognized. The Blossom Festival is a tradition that originated in Saratoga in 1900 celebrating the agricultural heritage. Participating in a tradition creates long lasting memories.

The Saratoga History Museum is located at 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road in Saratoga. Admission is free. The Museum is open from 1-4 on Friday, 10-4 on Saturday and 1-4 on Sunday. For more information go up to www.saratogahistory.com or call 408-867-4311.

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

Blacksmith Exhibit Scheduled to Open 2023

A new blacksmith exhibit will open in 2023 demonstrating the work a blacksmith of the 1850s would have handled. Interactivity and sound effects will add to the ambience. Also planned is a nonfunctional outhouse as part of the turn of the century theme of all the structures in the Saratoga Historical Park. All the structures, the McWilliams House, one-room schoolhouse, museum, and soon the blacksmith exhibit are used to teach pioneer living as well as Saratoga's rich history.

If you would like to contribute to this exhibit, ($5000 contribution and higher and your name will be on a plaque on the outside of the exhibit)-- send your contribution to:

Blacksmith Exhibit
c/0 Saratoga Historical Foundation
PO Box 172
Saratoga, CA 95071

Your donation is tax deductible.

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.

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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