Redwood City in San Mateo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Mezes Park

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, October 8, 2022

1. Mezes Park Marker

Inscription.
Mezes Park was donated to the public in 1854 by Simon Mezes, founder of the Town of Mezesville which became Redwood City in 1867. Originally named Park Square, the public space was bordered by B Street (now Warren Street) on the Southwest, C Street (Allerton Street) on the northwest, Thirteenth Street (Howland Avenue) on the northeast, and Twelfth Street (Standish Street) on the southwest. (See map below)

Mezes Park was one of three parcels donated to the public by Mr. Mezes, including the Courthouse block. These are believed to be the first lands in California donated for public use.

Mezes Park at one time included a building where the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) held its meetings. In 1946, at the request of the VFW members, a United States Army M-5 Stuart Tank was placed in Mezes Park to commemorate those Americans who had served in the two world wars.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas • Patriots & Patriotism • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.

Location. 37° 29.483′ N, 122° 14.182′ W. Marker is in Redwood City, California, in San Mateo County. It is on Warren Street near Standish Street, on the right when traveling north

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. The resin marker is mounted to a metal stand near the M-5 Stuart tank. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1027 Allerton Street, Redwood City CA 94063, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area,

in Silicon Valley,

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Redwood City Sesquicentennial (a few steps from this marker); S.M. Mezes (within shouting distance of this marker); Sequoia Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Redwood City Woman’s Club (approx. 0.4 miles away); Soledad O. de Arguello (approx. 0.4 miles away); Redwood City Arch (approx. 0.4 miles away); Carrington Hall (approx. 0.4 miles away); California Square (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Redwood City.

Also see . . . Historical Blog Series: Mezes Park (Tank Park). Redwood City VOICE website entry:

"Mezes donated two blocks to Redwood City for plazas. In 1905 one of those blocks was turned into a park then known as California Square. The other block eventually became Mezes Plaza."

(Submitted on October 17, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, October 8, 2022

2. Mezes Park Marker

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, October 8, 2022

3. Mezes Park Marker

M-5 Stuart Tank image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, October 8, 2022

4. M-5 Stuart Tank

Nearby Memorial Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, October 8, 2022

5. Nearby Memorial Plaque

In Memory of S.M. Mezes
Founder of Mezesville
Now Redwood City
Donor of this plaza for the enjoyment of all people
August 1, 1856

Mezes Park Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, October 8, 2022

6. Mezes Park Sign

Credits. This page was last revised on December 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 553 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 17, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.