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

San Jose High School

150 Years

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 17, 2013

1. San Jose High School Marker

Inscription. Founded in 1863 during the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln, SJHS is the oldeest high school in Santa Clara County and second oldest in California. Its first classes were held in a 2nd floor room of J.G. Orbon’s flour store, where Joseph Bowen, the founder and first teacher and principal taught classes. On January 1, 1868, SJHS was located on Santa Clara Street, where the first diplomas were awarded to high school students. In 1898, a new high school building was ready on Washington Square and declared at the time one of the finest high schools in California. On April 18, 1906, the building was destroyed by the San Francisco earthquake. After the earthquake of 1906, classes were held for two years in the Lincoln school building. On September 9, 1908, a new SJHS was dedicated on San Fernando Street, but with the growth of higher education in the early 1950s, SJHS was forced to relocate once again. The site is now San Jose State University. Since November 2, 1952, SJHS has been at this current location.

Graduates include leaders in education, athletics, the arts, business, philanthropy, and public service. These include three

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United States Congressmen, a San Jose Mayor and Cabinet member. As an International Baccalaureate World School, it continues to provide leadership models.

Erected 2013 by San Jose High Class of 1972, Native Sons of the Golden West & Mountain Charlie Chapter No. 1850, E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus, and the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is January 2013.

Location. 37° 21.004′ N, 121° 52.273′ W. Marker is in San Jose, California, in Santa Clara County. It is in Central San Jose. It is at the intersection of North 24th Street and East Julian Street, on the right when traveling south on North 24th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 273 North 24th Street, San Jose CA 95116, 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

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 17, 2013

2. San Jose High School Marker

of Fire,

on 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: Skinner's Seedling (approx. 0.2 miles away); Slettedahl House (approx. ¾ mile away); San Jose Woman's Club (approx. 0.8 miles away); Amamiyla Midwife House (approx. 1.2 miles away); Sumo Ring Site (approx. 1.2 miles away); Asahi Baseball (approx. 1.2 miles away); Tower Bell (approx. 1.2 miles away); Japantown Theater (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Jose.

Also see . . . San Jose High School History - San Jose High School Bulldog Foundation. From 1952 to the present, SJHS has been located at 24th and Julian. The original school subsequent to renovations in later years cost over $2,500,000. In 1952, the original building was selected by the Museum of Modern Art in NYC as one of the forty-three outstanding buildings of the postwar period. (Submitted on September 30, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

San Jose High School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Richard Bebrent, Publisher, circa 1905

3. San Jose High School

San Jose High School destroyed by the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake image. Click for full size.

Photographed by N/a, circa 1906

4. San Jose High School destroyed by the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 2,062 times since then and 95 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 30, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3. submitted on October 1, 2013. 4. submitted on September 30, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.