The Sunnyvale Historical Society (SHS) is celebrating its 70-year anniversary with a special summer exhibition and a free reception on July 19, noon-3 p.m., at the Heritage Park Museum, 570 E. Remington Drive.
The July reception highlights the museum’s summer exhibition featuring the timeline and evolution of the volunteer-run SHS over the past 70 years. The society was formed in 1956 with the express objective to save the old Murphy homestead (called Bay View), which was demolished in 1961 to make way for Central Expressway, even though it had been declared an historical landmark just a year prior.
Photos and artifacts from life at the SHS and its development are on display, from the formation of the society in 1956 to the creation of the Orchard Heritage Park Interpretive Exhibit pavilion in 2001, moving the Bianchi barn to the park (dedicated in 2003), the construction of the museum in 2008 and looking back on 18 years of operating a successful museum.
Visitors will see photos of events and activities over the years, including the centennial celebration of 2012, the 10-year anniversary that was staged in year 11 because the demolition of the old maintenance building and construction of the new walkway had not yet been completed, in addition to “Walk through Time” and “Trails to Rails” community events. Many rotating exhibitions with a variety of themes have been displayed through the years; the school program was redesigned for the new museum, and events such as the vintage and yard sales evolved as circumstances shifted.
For more information, visit Heritageparkmuseum.org or call 408-749-0220.