On California Avenue at Walk Circle, on the right when traveling north on California Avenue.
Santa Cruz County
1866
Geo. Peckner Cash Store
Thomas Beck, Architect
Also built Peckner’s branch store at Pacific and Mission Streets
Historical Trust Landmark — — Map (db m212569) HM
Near Jordan Street south of Escalona Drive, on the right when traveling south.
An intellectual, humanitarian and suffragist, Georgiana raised her family in this house from 1854 until her death in 1887. Born in England and educated in the East by America’s leading thinkers and writers. She brought to California an intellectual . . . — — Map (db m202234) HM
Near Washington Street near New Street, on the right when traveling north.
Santa Cruz County
1860s
German-Methodist Parsonage
(Former John Werner House)
Gothic Vernacular Style
Moved to this site in 1905
Historical Trust Landmark
This Building Professionally Restored
Circa 1990 . . . — — Map (db m205370) HM
The Giant Dipper roller coaster, with its trademark red and white structure, spectacular view of the Monterey Bay, and speedy dips and curves, keeps generations of riders coming back for more.
The Giant Dipper has thrilled over 50 million . . . — — Map (db m62827) HM
Near Evergreen Street, on the right when traveling south.
Grove C. Cook, a native of Kentucky, came to California in 1841 as a member of the Bidwell-Bartleson Party, the first overland emigrant wagon train to set out from the United States to cross the continent to the Pacific Slope.
The party was forced . . . — — Map (db m62419) HM
Creating the right balance between old and new rides is key to the Boardwalk’s success. From the 1911 Looff Carousel to the 2005 Double Shot Tower, rides are carefully selected to make good use of space, appeal to visitors of all ages, and always . . . — — Map (db m201648) HM
On Chestnut Street near Rincon Street, on the right when traveling south.
Santa Cruz
Hinds House
1888, Stick-Eastlake
John H. Williams, Arch. Home of real estate developer Alfred J. Hinds
Historical Society — — Map (db m205298) HM
The Santa Cruz City Hall was designed by Charles J. Ryland in the Monterey Colonial Revival architecture style. The building was dedicated in 1938, but was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. The rededication of the refurbished City Hall was . . . — — Map (db m203242) HM
The history of surfing in Santa Cruz can be traced in part to the Santa Cruz Surfing Club, founded in 1936. The following members were among the first in this area to experience the thrill of conquering a wave.
Jim Alumbauch Bill . . . — — Map (db m112987) HM
Near Evergreen Street, on the right when traveling south.
Isaac Graham: Born Sept. 1, 1800 in Fincastle, Virginia, was a rough and tumble trapper and mountain man, who wandered the western wilderness. He ended up in 1836 Natividad, California where he ran a Saloon and Whiskey Still.
He organized Los . . . — — Map (db m62438) HM
On Walnut Avenue at Pacific Avenue, on the left when traveling west on Walnut Avenue.
The original building on this site was a two-story clapboard parsonage of a Congregational minister. Chinatown was directly to the south.
The Alta Building Followed. It was erected in 1889 by Fredrick Hihn and was a two-story structure with . . . — — Map (db m212374) HM
On Walnut Avenue near Chestnut Street, on the left when traveling east.
Historic Landmark
1896
John G. Tanner Love Nest
Gift to bride Mollie Bowen
Le Baron R. Olive, Architect
Eastlake Style
The Museum of Art & History
This Building Professionally Restored
Circa 1990 by . . . — — Map (db m205127) HM
On Bay Street at Centennial Street, on the right when traveling west on Bay Street.
Honoring the Italian-American Contribution to Santa Cruz County
Italian immigrants sacrificed and sometimes barely survived to enable their children and their grandchildren to take full advantage of the American Dream. Second and third generation . . . — — Map (db m212508) HM
On Bay Street at Continental Street, on the right when traveling west on Bay Street.
With its natural beauty and rich coastal resources…
Santa Cruz has always attracted a diverse group of people whose cultural roots form the essence of this unique community. One such group, the Italians, have made lasting contributions that have . . . — — Map (db m212511) HM
On Bay Street at California Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Bay Street.
Farming has always been an important economic activity along the North Coast. Agriculture has long been a valuable economic resource for the North Coast. The fog-cooled climate provided an ideal match for artichokes, broccoli, and brussel sprouts . . . — — Map (db m212566) HM
Near Evergreen Street, on the right when traveling south.
Here lie the remains of Marie Holmes, a lady of the night, who on the evening of May 5, 1898, met a lonely and untimely end with the quaffing of carbolic acid. Born in England, she resided in San Francisco, Salinas and Watsonville before spending . . . — — Map (db m52359) HM
Generations of kids have enjoyed feeding Leo their litter. He worked here from 1965-2001 before retiring. Leo was fully restored by Boardwalk Maintenance and returned in 2019. The paper-eating lion was designed by Harry J. Batt Associates, operator . . . — — Map (db m201635) HM
On Van Ness Avenue east of Mission Street (California Route 1), on the right when traveling east.
Historic Landmark
1912
Thomas Burns, Builder
Leon & Jeanette Rowland Residence 1929-1977
Santa Cruz Historians
The Museum of Art & History — — Map (db m212576) HM
On Walnut Avenue near Chestnut Street, on the right when traveling east.
Historic Landmark
1877
Lewis and Maggie McCornick House
Master Builder’s First Home
Built as a gift for his bride on their Christmas Day wedding
The Museum of Art & History — — Map (db m205064) HM
On Lincoln Street near Washington Street, on the right when traveling east.
Santa Cruz County
1905 – 1920
Lincoln Court
AN excellent example of Calif. Bungalow Court
Built for Morris Abrams
Historical Landmark
This Building Professionally Restored
Circa 1990 by
Michael . . . — — Map (db m205302) HM
Historic Landmark
circa 1930
Lincoln’s Windmill
Flower bulb shop for Los Robles Farm
Later Buckhart’s Candies Shop
The Museum of Art & History — — Map (db m209461) HM
On Center Street near Laurel Street, on the right when traveling south.
Historic Landmark
1930
London Nelson Community Center
William Weeks, Architect
Laurel Street School, 1931-1974
Louden Nelson Center, 1979-2021
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History — — Map (db m205572) HM
Born a slave May 5, 1800 on a North Carolina plantation, Louden (London) Nelson worked the cotton fields until his master, Matthew Nelson brought him to the 1849 California Gold Rush. After securing his freedom, he arrived in Santa Cruz in 1856. . . . — — Map (db m62439) HM
On Mission Street, on the left when traveling west.
In Honor of
Louden Nelson
1800 – 1860
An ex-slave who left his estate to Santa Cruz Schools. He believed in education for all people. — — Map (db m203235) HM
On Beach Street at Riverside Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Beach Street.
Whether you call it a merry-go-round, carousel, or whirlgig, visitors have always been enchanted with the Boardwalk’s oldest ride. At the grand opening of the “hippodrome,” as the carousel and its building were called, one hundred rocking chairs . . . — — Map (db m62814) HM
On Coolidge Drive, 0.2 miles north of High Street, on the left when traveling north.
This building is known as a cooperage. It is where workers built the
redwood barrels used to pack and ship lime. The barrel-makers, or
coopers, assembled and stored the empty barrels upstairs. Once the barrels
were filled with lime from the . . . — — Map (db m183586) HM
On Elm Street near Washington Street, on the right when traveling east.
Historic Landmark
circa 1870s
Matilda Dreher Home,
Greek Vernacular Style
Part of six block farm of pioneer Dreher Family
The Museum of Art & History — — Map (db m205373) HM
On Myrtle Street at Taylor Street on Myrtle Street.
Marker One:
In Memory
of Our
High School Students
Who Made the Supreme Sacrifice in the World War
Gift of the Class of ‘23
Marker Two:
Memorial Field
Dedicated May 9, 1924 to the . . . — — Map (db m205172) WM
On Beach Street at Pacific Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Beach Street.
In 1959 Jack O'Neill came with his family to Santa Cruz and opened his 500 square foot "Surf Shop” at this location, just above Cowell Beach. The Surf Shop was O'Neill's first retail store in Santa Cruz, offering custom built foam surfboards . . . — — Map (db m123878) HM
A Brief History
In the mid-1800’s, the Pacific Garden Mall was simply known as “Pacific.” The corner now occupied by the Old Theatre Building contained a picturesque little pond shaded by a mammoth sycamore. Also under the tree was . . . — — Map (db m63268) HM
Historic Landmark
1926
Parr Apartments
Established in 1929 and expanded to entire house in 1933
Depression era rentals
The Museum of Art & History
This building Professionally Restored
Circa 1990 by . . . — — Map (db m205125) HM
Historic Landmark
1906
Patrick Neary Building
Edward Van Cleeck, Architect
Richardsonian Romanesque
The Museum of Art & History — — Map (db m212378) HM
On High Street at Highland Avenue, on the left when traveling east on High Street.
Santa Cruz County
1912
Piedmont Court
William Bray, Architect
Mission Revival apartments with Moorish influence built by Pedro B. Chisem, Mexican capitalist
Historical Trust Landmark — — Map (db m203156) HM
On Center Street, on the right when traveling south.
Santa Cruz County
1902
Progressive Baptist Hall & Parsonage
Built as All Souls Unitarian Parsonage
Edward Van Cleeck, Arch.
Historical Trust Landmark — — Map (db m203260) HM
On Walnut Avenue near Chestnut Street, on the right when traveling west.
Santa Cruz
Reese House
1892 Eastlake-Queen Anne
One of a mirror-image pair built by M.A. Reese for his family
Historical Society — — Map (db m205130) HM
On Evergreen Street, 0 miles east of Coral Street, on the left when traveling east.
Remembering Chinese Pioneers
The Santa Cruz Chinese community buried over 80 people at Evergreen Cemetery. It was customary for specialized 'bone pickers' to later exhume bones and send them home
to China. Some Chinese remain buried here. . . . — — Map (db m132265) HM
Saint Joseph Marello (1844-1895)
Bishop of Acqui and founder of the Oblates of Saint Joseph
Fortis of Suavis Sculpture by Thomas Marsh, March 19, 1997
Born in Turin, Italy, Joseph Marello lived as a zealous priest in the city of Asti. There . . . — — Map (db m112986) HM
Near River Street (California Route 9) north of Encinal Street, on the right when traveling north.
For 145 years, Santa Cruz was a leading source of tanned hides, first in California and later throughout the world. After the Gold Rush, people were clamoring for leather goods – boots, harnesses, and machinery belts for farming and mining . . . — — Map (db m62767) HM
On River Street east of Front Street, on the right when traveling north.
This plaque commemorates the individuals listed below for their devotion and countless hours of time given to the San Lorenzo Park Redevelopment Project. The federally assisted project, commenced in 1956, was one of the most successful in the . . . — — Map (db m212373) HM
On Beach Street at Riverside Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Beach Street.
A local landmark since 1907, this boardwalk was one of the first amusement parks in California. It is now the only oceanside amusement park operating on the west coast. The Boardwalk is the site of two rare attractions, the 1911 Carousel and the . . . — — Map (db m78813) HM
On Beach Street at Riverside Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Beach Street.
These boards are part of the original Santa Cruz Boardwalk and were saved during a restoration project completed in 1984.
This project was one of many completed under Laurence P. Canfield, President of the Santa Cruz Seaside Company from 1952 to . . . — — Map (db m62813) HM
On Cooper Street at Pacific Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Cooper Street.
Civic Renaissance Center
The Great Fire of 1894 left 3 blocks of destruction around the 1866 Cooper St. Civic Center. The Civic reconstruction promoted Renaissance designs to show “Culture” had arrived in Santa Cruz, and surrounding businesses . . . — — Map (db m62482) HM
On Pacific Avenue at Front Street on Pacific Avenue.
(There are two markers, front and back, on this memorial.)
Front:
Dedicated to those from
Santa Cruz County
who served their country in
the World War, and to the
memory of these who "gave the
last full measure of devotion" . . . — — Map (db m62527) WM
On Cooper Street at Front Street, on the right when traveling west on Cooper Street.
English text:The Octagon is one of the oldest buildings in downtown Santa Cruz. Architect John Wesley Newcum modeled the building after a $50 octagonal shaped gold piece first minted in San Francisco in 1851. The building, made . . . — — Map (db m126026) HM
Near Front Street at Water Street, on the right when traveling south.
James Knox Taylor, Architect
Italian Renaissance Style
State’s Oldest In-Use P.O. Bldg.
Historic Landmark
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History — — Map (db m62529) HM
On Ocean Street, on the left when traveling north.
Founded in 1862, and continuously operated , by the Santa Cruz Lodge #96, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The park has grown from a modest size lot to over 30 acres of well maintained grounds. The park has had endowment care since the turn of the . . . — — Map (db m203153) HM
On 9th Avenue near East Cliff Drive, on the left when traveling south.
This area, popularly known as Twin Lakes, was named after twin lagoons that once reached the sea.
Schwan Lagoon and its twin, Woods Lagoon, changed as the town developed. Woods Lagoon became the yacht harbor. Schwan Lagoon lost its connection to . . . — — Map (db m209199) HM
On Emmett Street at School Street, on the left when traveling east on Emmett Street.
Misión La Exaltación de la Santa Cruz, the 12th Franciscan mission, was consecrated by Father Fermín Lasuen in August 1791. In 1793 the adobe church was built where the Holy Cross Catholic Church is now located. The mission was damaged by several . . . — — Map (db m203623) HM
On Pacific Avenue near Front Street, on the right when traveling south.
The Loma Prieta Earthquake struck on Oct. 17, 1989. As a result, a brick wall from the Williamson & Garrett Building collapsed and fell through the roof of the Phoenix Building. Both Shawn McCormick and Robin Ortiz lost their lives as a result of . . . — — Map (db m212244) HM
On Pacific Avenue at Front Street, on the right when traveling south on Pacific Avenue.
The old Phoenix Building (1549 Pacific Ave.) was constructed about 1866, and became the old Phoenix Saloon and lodgings. Around 1900 it headquartered the Santa Cruz Stage & Express Co. until 1910, then Hugo Photo Studio (1924-27), a fruit market . . . — — Map (db m212314) HM
On Pacific Avenue south of Front Street, on the left when traveling south.
Barry Swenson Builder
Project Manager: Jesse L. Nickell III
Thatcher & Thompson, Architects
Project Managers: Robert Scheren and Peter Silva
Structural Engineer: People Assoc.
Project Manager: Chris Taplin
The current facade design is . . . — — Map (db m212379) HM
On Pacific Avenue near Front Street, on the left when traveling south.
Built for Anson P. Hotaling
Architects: Kenitzer & Kollofrath
Mission Revival facade—1922
Having been destroyed with the heart of downtown in an 1894 fire, the on-year-old bldg. was rebuilt and renamed “The St. George Hotel”, as the knight . . . — — Map (db m212380) HM
On Front Street near 3rd Street, on the right when traveling north.
Santa Cruz County
ca. 1886
Sunshine Villa
J.B. Smith Family Residence
Founders of Venetian Water Festival
Historical Trust Landmark
This building professionally Restored
Circa 1990 by
Michael O’Hearn . . . — — Map (db m212482) HM
Near West Cliff Drive, on the left when traveling west.
During the summer of 1885, three young Hawaiian princes rode the waves at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River on Redwood planks the ordered cut in the shape of olo surfboards by the local timber mill.
H.M. Queen Kapi’olani’s nephews: . . . — — Map (db m71541) HM
As early as 1885, Hawaiian princes were reported to have ridden waves at the San Lorenzo River mouth on boards shaped from local redwood. The surfing craze hit Santa Cruz in the 1930s and local teens were soon hooked on the sport.
Ever since, . . . — — Map (db m201647) HM
On North Branciforte Avenue at Goss Avenue, on the left when traveling east on North Branciforte Avenue.
The only remaining structure of the Villa de Branciforte established in 1797. The last and least prosperous of threee Spanish settlements in Alta California. Populated by paroled petty criminals from Guadalajaran juzgados and pensioned soldiers. The . . . — — Map (db m100905) HM
On Portola Drive east of 35th Avenue, on the right when traveling east.
"One-eye Charley Parkhurst,” working as a driver for stage lines came to California seeking fortune in the gold fields until around 1860. Charley was small, slim and wiry. When he spoke it was in an oddly high-pitched voice. Charley died 1879 in a . . . — — Map (db m62585) HM
Early in the Casino’s history a concert band played on the beach bandstand on summer afternoons and changed into tuxedos for evening dances in the ballroom.
In 1924 Isham Jone’s band brought jazz to the Cocoanut Grove.
1932 introduced . . . — — Map (db m62791) HM
On Mission Street near Green Street, on the right when traveling east.
Site of the first Protestant Church in Santa Cruz
The First Methodist
First church building constructed here
Founded 1848 – Dedicated 1850
— — Map (db m203213) HM
On Pacific Avenue at Lincoln Street, on the right when traveling south on Pacific Avenue.
The medico-dental building, erected by Frederick A. Hihn in 1894, stood on this site until it was destroyed by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
This building was constructed by Gloria Hihn Welsh in 1994.
General Contractor
Darrow Palmer . . . — — Map (db m62488) HM
Near Mystery Spot Road, 0.3 miles north of Branciforte Drive.
Originally we wanted to get the level ground below here for a summer home or mountain cabin, but the gentleman we were buying from would not sell the level ground unless
we purchased a strip across the entire south end of his property including . . . — — Map (db m214820) HM
On Keystone Way near The Royal Arch, on the left when traveling north.
This photograph, taken circa 1903, shows one of two Pack Houses at the California Powder Works. In this building, located where 267 Keystone is today, 25 and 50 pound cans of black powder were packed and readied for shipment. Before the mid 1870s, . . . — — Map (db m203080) HM
On Walnut Avenue near Rincon Street, on the right when traveling west.
Santa Cruz
1892
The Palmer House
F.A. Hihn • Builder
Stick-Eastlake Style Residence of Sylvester A. & Sarah Palmer, Downton Merchants
Historical Society Landmark — — Map (db m205164) HM
On Keystone Way, on the right when traveling north.
The San Lorenzo Paper Mill was established by Henry Van Valkenburgh in 1861 on the present site of Paradise Park’s Section 6. A dam and flume provided water power to drive the machinery. The photograph above, shows a similar dam which illustrates . . . — — Map (db m203077) HM
Less than a year after fire destroyed the original Casino and Plunge, construction began on new buildings to include an indoor natatorium. The original ceiling arches can be seen today. The main pool measured 144 feet by 64 feet and featured a . . . — — Map (db m62792) HM
