Historical Landmarks

California Historical Landmarks

Landmarks in San Mateo County

Landmarks in Menlo Park:

NO. 2 PORTOLÁ JOURNEY'S END - In 1769 the Portolá expedition of 63 men and 200 horses and mules camped near El Palo Alto, the tall tree. They had traveled from San Diego in search of Monterey but discovered instead the Bay of San Francisco. Finding the bay too large to go around, and deciding that Monterey had been bypassed, they ended the search and returned to San Diego.

Location: Intersection of E Creek Dr and Alma St, Menlo Park

See file below--2 Portola Journeys End, Year 1769.doc --for more details.

NO. 939 Twentieth Century Folk Art Environments (Thematic) -CAPIDRO - The late John Guidici, a retired gardener, began landscaping his Menlo Park house in 1932, using mostly cement, local sand, and the shells that were available free at local beaches.

Location: 262 Princeton Rd, Menlo Park

Note: This landscaping at 262 Princeton Rd has been removed.

NO. 955 MENLO PARK RAILROAD STATION - This building, constructed in 1867 by the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad Company, is the oldest railroad passenger station in California. The Victorian ornamentation was added in the 1890s when the station was remodeled to serve the newly-opened Stanford University. The extension on the northwest was added to accommodate increased traffic generated by the establishment of Camp Fremont nearby during World War I.

Location: 1100 Merrill Ave, Menlo Park

Note: This RR station is also listed in the National Registry of Historical Places, NRIS=74000556.

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From its origins as Ohlone territory to its establishment as an Irish-inspired settlement in 1851, Menlo Park has transformed from a small railroad town into a vibrant Silicon Valley city, marked by milestones like the iconic Menlo Park Gates, the arrival of Facebook, and its meaningful connection to its Irish namesake through a sister city relationship with Galway.
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 A black and white photo of a train station with people standing outside.

A History of the Menlo Park Train Station

It takes some looking around, but Menlo Park has quite a few buildings dating back before the 1900s.
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