Downtown San Jose in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

San José Academy

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 6, 2012

1. San José Academy Marker

Inscription. The San José Academy was founded on this site in 1850, as Edward Bannister’s English and Classical School, and held it first graduation ceremony – the earliest in the state – in December, 1851. A private, non-sectarian preparatory school teaching English and the classics, the Academy, while not under the direct control of the Methodist Church, was distinctly Methodist in tone. Its principal, Reverend Edward Bannister, later became president of the University of the Pacific. The San José Academy can therefore be considered a forerunner of California’s oldest chartered college.

Erected by San Jose History Walk. (Marker Number 31.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1851.

Location. 37° 20.173′ N, 121° 53.331′ W. Marker is in San Jose, California, in Santa Clara County. It is in Downtown San Jose. It is on South 2nd Street north of West San Fernando Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20 South 2nd Street, San Jose CA 95113, 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: New Century Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Knox-Goodrich Building (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct

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line); Bank of America Building (about 400 feet away); Letitia Building (about 500 feet away); San Jose Mercury News (about 700 feet away); Labor Temple (about 700 feet away); Herrold Radio Broadcasting Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); Site of World’s First Broadcasting Station (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Jose.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 6, 2012

2. San José Academy Marker

Diagram of the San Jose History Walk image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, January 30, 2012

3. Diagram of the San Jose History Walk

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 14, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 676 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 14, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.