People in Redwood City will join thousands of individuals around the country as part of a nationwide celebration of the annual National Historic Preservation Month, during May, 2011. “Celebrating America’s Treasures” is the theme of the month-long celebration that is sponsored annually by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and locally by Redwood City’s Historic Resources Advisory Committee. This special event spotlights grassroots historic preservation efforts in America, celebrates the diverse and unique heritage of our country’s cities and states, and enables more Americans to become involved in the growing historic preservation movement.

Here in Redwood City, Historic Preservation Month 2011 is observed by a proclamation by the Mayor, a Union Cemetery Historic Site tour, a Downtown historic walking tour, and historic field trips for 700 seventh graders to three downtown buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The community is invited to join in the celebration of Redwood City’s history!

• Union Cemetery Historic Site Tour, Saturday, May 14th 10 am: tour meets at the 1859 cemetery, located on Woodside Road, near El Camino Real. The Union Cemetery serves as a permanent archive of San Mateo County’s history. Recorded on stone are the rich and colorful lives of many pioneer families – including more than 40 Civil War veterans who are buried in the old soldiers’ plot established by the Grand Army of the Republic.
• Downtown Historic Walking Tour, Sunday, May 15th, 10:30 am: tour meets in front of Lathrop House at 627 Hamilton Street. The tour will last approximately one-and-a-half hours and will include most of Redwood City’s historic commercial buildings as well as some historic residential properties. Walking tour participants will see where Wyatt Earp occasionally came for a drink, where President Hoover once slept, where a Wells Fargo Express Office operated in 1875, Redwood City’s first new car showroom salon and auto repair garage, the finest theater on the peninsula in 1896, the former homes of prominent pioneer citizens and much more.
• New this year – Path of History: Redwood City’s new Historic Informational Kiosk and Commemorative Sculpture/Plaque, located at the corner of Main Street and Broadway near the site of the Wells Fargo express service. Here, visitors can see displays and photos, and read about Redwood City’s rich history. Brochures for a self-guided tour of historic landmarks in Downtown Redwood City – the “Path of History” – are available at City Hall, and will soon be available right at the kiosk display. Future phases will add plaques and more historic information throughout the Downtown area.

The seventh grade field trips, led by local volunteers, will bring students to the restored 1863 Lathrop House, the Old County Courthouse (home of the San Mateo County Historical Association and Museum), and the historic Fox Theatre.

Business, community and civic sponsors, and participants for the school tours include Redwood City’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development Department, Fox Theatre owners Eric and Lori Lochtefeld, the San Mateo County Historical Association, the Redwood City Heritage Association, Attorney Michael Bursak, and the Redwood City Optimist Club.

The Historic Resources Advisory Committee is an advisory committee to the Redwood City Planning Commission regarding the implementation of the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. The Committee recommends historic designation of local landmarks and districts, performs design review of changes to historic buildings, and is involved in other historic preservation related activities.

Visit Redwood City’s website at www.redwoodcity.org for information about the City and its services, the community, recreation programs, education, City government, and local business. Subscribe to Redwood City’s email newsletter or other documents by visiting www.redwoodcity.org/egov

— Charles Jany
— Community Development Services
— (650) 780-7239