Historical Markers and War Memorials in Redwood City, California
Redwood City is the county seat for San Mateo County
Redwood City is in San Mateo County
San Mateo County(191) ► ADJACENT TO SAN MATEO COUNTY Alameda County(674) ► San Francisco City and County(722) ► Santa Clara County(616) ► Santa Cruz County(257) ►
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In 1858, Simon M. Mezes donated land to the county so that a courthouse could be built. This is the third courthouse built on this exact site and the forth built in the property. In 1903, the architectural firm of Dodge and Dolliver designed a domed . . . — — Map (db m32621) HM
After the 1906 earthquake and its resulting fires destroyed much of San Francisco, public support surged for a reliable water supply. This allowed San Francisco to look beyond the Bay Area to resolve the region’s growing need for reliable, . . . — — Map (db m202491) HM
Near Brewster Avenue, on the right when traveling east.
Principal of Sequoia High School
Superintendent of Sequoia Union High School District
1921 – 1948
In the room at the foot of this tower Mr. Argo and his Board shaped policies of enduring importance to the Sequoia Union High School . . . — — Map (db m41619) HM
On Broadway near Warrington Avenue, on the right when traveling east.
Redwood City was an important center for early aviation and Stanford Redwood City is located on what was once an airfield. Silas Christofferson, a visionary young pilot and engineer, bought Michael Lynch’s flower field in early 1916 and built . . . — — Map (db m206589) HM
Al Terremere is a member of the Sequoia Sports Hall of Fame as both an athlete and a coach. Al was All-League in both football and baseball during his Sequoia playing career, and captured multiple championships in both baseball and football as a . . . — — Map (db m62605) HM
On Main Street south of Broadway Street, on the left when traveling south.
The finest playhouse between San Francisco and San Jose opened here January 20, 1896. In 1921, the building was purchased by Redwood City Masonic Lodge which was instituted August 28, 1863. — — Map (db m62625) HM
Spain claimed Alta California after its conquest of Mexico (1519-1521) When reports of British and Russian encroachment in Northern California began to circulate in the 1760s, Spain expanded its colonial settlements to defend the California . . . — — Map (db m206740) HM
On Broadway near Warrington Avenue, on the right when traveling east.
Alexander M. Poniatoff (1892-1980), a Russian immigrant to the United States, and his colleagues saw enormous commercial potential in the German recording technology they encountered during World War II. In 1944, he founded Ampex – Poniatoff’s . . . — — Map (db m206566) HM
On Marshall Street at Hamilton Street, on the left when traveling east on Marshall Street.
This was a public plaza in the Mezesville townsite, and was a park until 1959 when it was given to San Mateo County for a Hall of Justice and Records. — — Map (db m62577) HM
On Hamilton Street at Marshall Street on Hamilton Street. Reported unreadable.
California Square was a parcel of land located north of Marshall Street, between Hamilton and Winslow, diagonally located across the street from the Courthouse. The site was originally designated as a public park plaza in the Town of Mezesville . . . — — Map (db m202534) HM
Near Brewster Avenue, on the right when traveling east.
Otis M. Carrington is best remembered as one of the world’s foremost composers of operettas for children. In 1912, Mr. Carrington wrote “The Windmills of Holland”. It was the first of more than forty operettas to come from his hand, and . . . — — Map (db m41602) HM
(Four markers are mounted on this pedestal.)Original Marker:
Diller-Chamberlain General Store
(Quong Lee Laundry)
726 Main Street
J.V. Diller had this one-story brick building constructed in 1859 to house his general . . . — — Map (db m202732) HM
On Broadway east of Jefferson Avenue, on the right when traveling east.
You are standing over what was once Redwood City’s original waterfront, made up of creeks, tidal basins, and a fresh-water slough, providing the start of lumber, shipping and shipbuilding trades for the area. The tidal basins south of Bradford . . . — — Map (db m62622) HM
On Main Street near Broadway Street, on the right when traveling south.
A hotel on this site, owned by Harry N. Morse and Daniel W. Balch, was the site of the first town meeting in 1854. Residents rejected a Mezesville government. — — Map (db m25569) HM
On Middlefield Road, 0.5 miles west of Woodside Road (California Route 84), on the left when traveling west.
The Redwood City Volunteer Fire Department started in 1861, and was the first non-profit organization in San Mateo County. It wasn’t until 1921 when this building at 1044 Middlefield Road was built that the firefighters finally received a salary. . . . — — Map (db m202543) HM
On Middlefield Road, on the right when traveling south.
The forerunner to today’s Redwood City Fire Department began in 1861 when citizens met to establish a volunteer fire company. Known as Redwood City Fire Company No. 1, it was the first non-profit organization in San Mateo County. The first fire . . . — — Map (db m202544) HM
On Broadway at Theater Way, on the right when traveling east on Broadway.
Sequoia High School started September 16, 1895 with 53 students attending classes held on the third floor of the Redwood City Grammar School (replaced by the building now housing the Fox Theatre one block down Broadway). At that time, the building . . . — — Map (db m62621) HM
On Cañada Road, 0.2 miles south of Edgewood Road, on the right when traveling south.
The Gaspar de Portolá expedition camped twice near this marker. During Spain’s initial colonial thrust into Alta California, the exploration party headed northward from San Diego searching for Monterey Bay. At first, they did not recognize the bay . . . — — Map (db m199135) HM
Near Woodside Road (California Route 84) north of Hess Road, on the right when traveling south.
The GRAND ARMY of the REPUBLIC was a fraternal organization composed of honorably discharged veterans of the Union Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866, it grew to include about . . . — — Map (db m202545) HM
(front):
To the memory of California's Patriotic dead who served during the war for the Union
Mustered out
(back):
Erected by the grateful people of San Mateo
All honor to the nations defenders — — Map (db m62672) WM
On Broadway near Warrington Avenue, on the right when traveling east.
The connection between Stanford University and the City of Redwood City goes back a long time. While the first students were admitted to the University on October 1, 1891 – with the mission to “qualify its students for personal success, and . . . — — Map (db m206511) HM
Nurseryman Michael Lynch bought the property that is now the Stanford Redwood City campus in 1898. Lynch was best known for growing violets and sweet peas for sale as cut flowers and in seed packets. In 1901, he was hired by Jane Stanford to . . . — — Map (db m206591) HM
1st Lieut. 15th U.S. Infty.
Born at Aurora, N.Y.
August 1, 1842
Died at San Francisco
May 15, 1887
At the age of 19 he enlisted in the 1st. Regt. Wis. Volunteer Infty. He fought in the Battles of Falling Water, Chattanoogo (sic), . . . — — Map (db m202538) HM WM
On Hamilton Street, on the right when traveling north.
A classic example of early "Steamboat Gothic" architecture erected in 1863 as the residence of San Mateo County's first Clerk, Recorder and Assessor, Benjamin G. Lathrop. Later the residence of General Patrick Edward Connor and Sheriff Joel . . . — — Map (db m202539) HM
On Marshall Street, on the right when traveling east.
This home housed three families of historical significance. B.G. Lathrop who had the house built in 1863 was San Mateo County’s first clerk-recorder and assessor, serving until 1864 when he became Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for San Mateo . . . — — Map (db m202540) HM
On Skyline Boulevard (California Route 35 at milepost 14), on the right when traveling north.
Age Estimated - 1,860 Years
Height:
Before Top Broke - 225 Ft
In 1954 - 137 Ft
Diameter at Base - 14 Ft
Access courtesy of California Water Service — — Map (db m202567) HM
On Warren Street near Standish Street, on the right when traveling north.
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 . . . — — Map (db m208147) HM
The discovery of gold at Sutter’s Fort in 1848 ushered in a period of rapid change in California as thousands of immigrants flooded into the state and the non-native population grew from 20,000 to 100,000 in one year. Mexico ceded California to . . . — — Map (db m206644) HM
On Broadway near Warrington Avenue, on the left when traveling west.
The San Francisco Bay Area was settled by Native Americans before the end of the last Ice Age flooded the river valley (rúmmey waayi) that became San Francisco Bay (about 5,000 years ago). The ancestors (muwékmakuš) of the Muwekma . . . — — Map (db m206786) HM
On Broadway Street west of Jefferson Avenue, on the right when traveling east.
This block of Broadway underwent a number of major changes during the first half of the twentieth century.
It started out as the Central Grammar School in 1895 (legally named “Redwood City Public School”) shown at the left above. Part of a third . . . — — Map (db m62580) HM
On Skyline Boulevard (California Route 35), on the right when traveling south.
In the early morning darkness on August 5, 1959, near the intersection of Skyline Blvd. and Bunker Hill Drive Hillsborough Officer Doran Stopped a 19 year old convicted felon who was on probation for burglary and interstate auto theft. The felon was . . . — — Map (db m202462) HM
On Broadway Street, on the right when traveling east.
Simon M. Mezes, owner of the land that now includes most of Downtown Redwood City, donated a block to the newly-formed San Mateo County in 1858 so that a courthouse could be built. There were eventually four courthouses built on this property. . . . — — Map (db m62598) HM
On Broadway near Warrington Avenue, on the left when traveling west.
Fossilized bones were discovered on this site in 2017 during earthwork grading operations for the Stanford Redwood City campus. The bones were found at substantial depth below the ground surface. They were determined to be from the Pleistocene . . . — — Map (db m206827) HM
On Broadway east of California Street, on the right when traveling east.
Redwood City
Climate Best by Government Test
This archway sign and slogan is based on the design of two earlier archway signs that once spanned the El Camino Real, designating the northern and southern entryways into Redwood City. A . . . — — Map (db m41623) HM
On Marshall Street, on the right when traveling west.
On the evening of September 11, 1861, a group of concerned citizens met at the San Mateo County Courthouse. Their mission was to organize the Redwood Hose Company for the purpose of providing fire protection to the small settlement of Mezesville and . . . — — Map (db m202493) HM
On Warren Street near Howland Street, on the right when traveling west.
Residents of this maritime-oriented village known as Embarcadero, Mezesville, Redwood Landing, and Redwood met 150 years ago in civic action to improve muddy, impassable streets that halted commerce during the winter. Twice before, residents had met . . . — — Map (db m207590) HM
World War 11
Corporal James Lindsay Wilson
V.F.W. Post No. 2310
In memoriam
to the following Redwood City men
who gave their lives in World War II
1941 – 1945
Raymond J. Barra • Russell V. Braca • Everett F. Bottena • Robert . . . — — Map (db m62846) WM
On Clinton Street north of Broadway, on the right when traveling north.
The Redwood City Woman's Club was the first independent
women's organization in Redwood City. The women of Redwood
City and the vicinity formed the club to provide social, service,
and educational opportunities for its members. One of . . . — — Map (db m186431) HM
Emblems of the California National Guard, United States Air Force, The United States Marine Corps, United States Army, United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, United States Merchant Marines are displayed across the top of the monument.
The . . . — — Map (db m26244) HM
Near Woodside Road, on the right when traveling west.
This windmill was built in the 1880’s on the Solari farm, located at Whipple Avenue and Old County Road in Redwood City.
It was move in the 1930’s to the new family farm located on Manzanita Street near Middlefield Road and the railroad tracks, . . . — — Map (db m62671) HM
This reconstructed windmill was originally built in the 1890's on the George Solari family farm which was located near Whipple Avenue and Old County Road in Redwood City. When the area was subdivided in the 1930's, the windmill was moved to the new . . . — — Map (db m93230) HM
Near Broadway Street, on the right when traveling east.
Left Side - English
She donated 59,000 acres of land for the benefit of all people.
Right Side - Spanish
Donadora de 59,000 acres par beneficio de la comunidad — — Map (db m62575) HM
In 1865, Simon L. Knights began service to Searsville, Woodside, and later the coastside. In 1906, the line converted to automobiles. — — Map (db m202495) HM
South Panel - 1 of 4
Welcome to historic Downtown Redwood City!
Step back in time, over 150 years, when much of Downtown Redwood City was made up of creeks and wharves. Discover that the town got its name, not from indigenous redwood . . . — — Map (db m202536) HM
Redwood City Historic Landmark No.2
National Register Historic District
This Brick Building was constructed in 1859 as a general store for J.V. Diller, who became Redwood City's first mayor in 1867. From 1875 until 1911, P.P. . . . — — Map (db m25528) HM
Sequoia Union High School was founded in Redwood City in 1895, having two downtown locations before moving to the present site in 1924. With the exception of the Class of 1917, the tradition of installing graduation year plaques began with the first . . . — — Map (db m55258) HM
On Woodside Road (California Route 84) 0.5 miles west of El Camino Real (California Route 82), on the right when traveling west.
Union Cemetery's name reflects the controversy that erupted in the Civil War, three years after the cemetery's beginnings in 1859. Pro- and anti- slavery feelings ran high in California, and the founders of the cemetery strongly opposed the . . . — — Map (db m202537) HM
