Alameda Museum
Consider Volunteering
We are always looking for new volunteers who are willing to share their time with us and our visitors.
Mound Street is named for the Native American burial mounds found in the vicinity
Over 4,000 Alameda structures are on the Historic Building Study List
Alameda was a peninsula until 1902 when the Tidal Canal was dredged connecting Brooklyn Basin to San Leandro Bay
Our two galleries highlight the area’s rural beginnings as a peninsula through its development as a city highlighting government, businesses, locations, and personalities.
At the most fundamental level, the Alameda Museum’s role is to prevent time from eroding this city’s link to its past. The Museum, however, has emerged as a far more valuable resource for the community than merely a repository of Alameda’s recorded history and historical artifacts. It has expanded its role to become a hub of cultural activities including:
- Historical displays for public enjoyment
- Displays of art by historic local artists
- Displays by social and ethnic groups
- Resource center for historical research
- Source of educational books, videos and photos
- Operation of the Meyers House and Garden
- Education hub for teachers and students
The Museum is a valuable resource for city records, especially related to neighborhood development. Block books and Assessor documents hold clues to property ownership and alterations to individual structures. Other interesting facts can be found in archives related to City Departments such as Fire, Police, and Health. You can stop by during open hours with a question or contact us to make an appointment.
Our job is serving the public, providing a fun learning experience while “preserving the past for the future”.
If you have a classroom, scouting, or adult group that would like a narrated, docent led tour, please contact us to make arrangements. We can open the Museum during non-business hours to give you exclusive access with a history lesson plus Q & A time, to fit your schedule.
The considerable energy and financial resources to support The Museum’s contributions to the community are supplied by its membership, donations, fundraisers, and cooperation from the City of Alameda. Diligent research and fieldwork by the staff, as well as generous contributions from Alameda citizens, continue to build the Museum’s inventory of irreplaceable documents and artifacts. In concert, these efforts have transformed the Alameda Museum into a community resource of value and an essential component in the preservation of city history.
