Heritage District in Sunnyvale in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Murphy Station District

— Heritage Landmark —

Photographed by Roy Tuason, echo7tango USMC, November 20, 2025

1. Murphy Station District Marker

Inscription. “Murphy Station” was established when Martin Murphy, Jr., California pioneer, granted the railroad the right of way through his land in 1864. The stop saw the arrival and departure of important dignitaries who visited Murphy’s Bayview Ranch, a focal point of political and social activity in the Santa Clara Valley.

In 1898, W. E. Crossman, a real estate developer, purchased 200 acres from Murphy and named the town Encinal, “Place where the live oak grows.” The first post office and general store were built on this street near the site of Murphy Station. The town was renamed Sunnyvale in 1901 and incorporated in 1912. The railroad and industrial buildings running east and west, and the business district running north and south provided the base from which Sunnyvale grew. The 100 block of South Murphy Avenue is the original downtown commercial district where most of the structures were built between 1900 and 1940.

Erected 1987 by The Sunnyvale Heritage Preservation Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 37° 22.569′ N, 122° 1.828′ W. Marker is in Sunnyvale, California, in Santa Clara County. It is

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in the Heritage District. It is at the intersection of South Murphy Avenue and East Washington Avenue, on the left when traveling north on South Murphy Avenue. Beneath and on the west end of the overhead banner, HISTORIC MURPHY AVENUE. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 197 S Murphy Avenue, Sunnyvale CA 94086, 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Del Monte Building (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); F.E. Cornell’s Country Store (about 500 feet away); Joshua Hendy Iron Works (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hendy Ironworks (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hendy Stamp Mill / Hendy's "California" Stamp Mill (approx. 0.4 miles away); Home of Martin Murphy, Jr. (approx. half a mile away); De Anza Expedition 1775 - 1776 (approx. half a mile away); City Hall Bell & City Hall Cornerstone (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sunnyvale.

Additional keywords. Downtown Sunnyvale

Photographed by Roy Tuason, echo7tango USMC

2. Murphy Station District Marker

Facing to the southeast

Photographed by Roy Tuason, echo7tango USMC, November 20, 2025

3. Murphy Station District Marker

Photographed by Roy Tuason, echo7tango USMC, November 20, 2025

4. Murphy Station District Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2025, by Roy Tuason, echo7tango USMC of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 89 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 21, 2025, by Roy Tuason, echo7tango USMC of San Francisco, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.