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California Historical Landmarks in San Mateo County facts for kids

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California is full of amazing historical places, and San Mateo County has many of them! These special spots are called California Historical Landmarks. They are important because they help us remember cool stories and events from the past.

Imagine exploring places where famous explorers camped, where important buildings stood, or where big events happened. That's what these landmarks are all about! They teach us about the people and moments that shaped California.

Historic Places in San Mateo County

Let's take a look at some of the interesting California Historical Landmarks you can find in San Mateo County.

Early Explorers and Camps

Many landmarks in San Mateo County are linked to early explorers, especially the Portolá Expedition. This group was the first European land expedition to explore California in 1769.

Anza Expedition Camps

  • Anza Expedition Camp (San Mateo) (CHL 47): This camp was located on the banks of San Mateo Creek in San Mateo. It was a stop for the Anza Expedition, another important Spanish exploration group.
  • Anza Expedition Camp (Burlingame) (CHL 48): Another camp from the Anza Expedition was found near El Camino Real and Ralston in Burlingame.

Portolá Expedition Trail

The Portolá Expedition traveled through many parts of San Mateo County. Several landmarks mark their journey, often called the Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail, honoring both the explorers and the Ohlone Native Americans who lived here.

San Francisco Bay Discovery Site

  • San Francisco Bay Discovery Site (CHL 394): This important site is on Sweeney Ridge in Pacifica. It's where the Portolá expedition first saw San Francisco Bay, a huge moment in California's history. It's also on the NRHP list.

Historic Buildings and Sites

San Mateo County is also home to many historic buildings, from grand mansions to simple churches and old stores.

Famous Homes and Estates

  • Carolands (CHL 886): Located in Hillsborough, Carolands is a beautiful and very large mansion. It's also listed on the NRHP.
  • Filoli (CHL 907): This stunning country estate is in Woodside. It features a grand house and beautiful gardens, often used for movies and TV shows.
  • Ralston Hall (CHL 856): Found at the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, Ralston Hall is a historic building that was once a grand home. It's also on the NRHP list.

Historic Churches

  • First Congregational Church of Pescadero (CHL 949): This historic church is on San Gregorio Street in Pescadero.
  • Our Lady of the Wayside Church (CHL 909): This charming church is located on Portola Road in Portola Valley.

Other Notable Buildings

  • Burlingame Station (CHL 846): This historic train station is at 290 California Drive in Burlingame. It's also on the NRHP list.
  • Casa de Tableta (CHL 825): Also known as Alpine Inn, this historic spot is on Alpine Road in Portola Valley. It's also on the NRHP list.
  • Menlo Park Station (CHL 955): This train station at 1120 Merrill Street in Menlo Park is another historical landmark. It's also on the NRHP list.
  • Sánchez Adobe (CHL 391): Located in Sánchez Adobe Park in Pacifica, this adobe building has a long history. It's also on the NRHP list and part of the Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail.
  • Woodside Store (CHL 93): This old store at 471 Kings Mountain Road in Woodside tells a story of early life in the area.

Sites That No Longer Exist

Some landmarks mark places where important buildings once stood, even if they are gone now.

  • Capidro (CHL 939-8): This was a unique folk art display on a home in Menlo Park that no longer exists.
  • Mission Hospice (CHL 393): This site in San Mateo was once Mission San Mateo, an outpost of Mission San Francisco de Asis. The buildings were later used as an inn but are no longer standing.
  • Old Store at La Honda (CHL 343): This building, once at the corner of La Honda Road and Sears Ranch Road in La Honda, no longer exists.

Other Historical Sites

  • Broderick-Terry Dueling Place (CHL 19): This site at 1100 Lake Merced Boulevard in Daly City marks the location of a famous duel.
  • Pigeon Point Lighthouse (CHL 930): This tall lighthouse is a well-known landmark near Davenport.
  • San Mateo County's first sawmill (CHL 478): This historic site on Portola Road in Woodside marks where the first sawmill in the county was located.
  • Searsville (CHL 474): This was the site of a former village located within the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve in Woodside.
  • Steele Brothers Dairy Ranches (CHL 906): These historic dairy ranches are located within Año Nuevo State Reserve in Pescadero.
  • Tanforan Assembly Center (CHL 934): This site, now the Tanforan Shopping Center in San Bruno, was once a temporary camp during World War II.
  • Union Cemetery (CHL 816): This historic cemetery at El Camino Real and Woodside Road in Redwood City is also on the NRHP list.

These landmarks help us connect with the past and understand the rich history of San Mateo County!

Images for kids

  • Arroyo Court, aka De Anza Historical Park, San Mateo (50182420207)

    Anza Expedition Camp in San Mateo

  • CHL48AnzaExpeditionCamp

    Anza Expedition Camp in Burlingame

  • Broderick-Terry Duel Site

    Broderick-Terry Dueling Place

  • Burlingame Railroad Station, Burlingame Ave. and California Dr., Burlingame, CA 7-31-2011 7-27-36 PM

    Burlingame Station

  • Carolands Chateau

    Carolands

  • Casa de Tableta, Portola Valley, California

    Casa de Tableta (Alpine Inn)

  • Filoli

    Filoli

  • First Congregational Church of Pescadero, San Gregorio St., Pescadero, CA 10-30-2011 2-33-34 PM

    First Congregational Church of Pescadero

  • MenloParkTrainStation

    Menlo Park Station

  • Mission San Mateo Old Granary

    Mission San Mateo (former site of Mission Hospice)

  • OurLadyoftheWayside

    Our Lady of the Wayside Church

  • Pigeon Point Lighthouse in California

    Pigeon Point Lighthouse

  • Verde Road at Purisíma

    Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail, Purisíma Creek

  • Whitehouse Campsite

    Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail at Gazos Creek

  • Montara State Beach

    Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail at Montara Mountain

  • CRW 2419

    Portolá Expedition Camp at San Gregorio State Beach

  • San Andreas Fault San Mateo

    Portolá Expedition Camp at San Andreas Lake

  • Upper Crystal Springs Lake San Mateo County

    Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail at Laguna Grande

  • CHL Marker 2 area

    Portolá Journey's End

  • Ralston hall

    Ralston Hall

  • Sánchez Adobe exterior 1

    Sánchez Adobe

  • Mount Diablo from SF Bay Discovery Site 10-2-2011 4-24-09 PM

    San Francisco Bay Discovery Site

  • San Francisco water (1925) (14597215937)

    Searsville

  • SOUTHWEST FRONT AND SOUTHEAST SIDE - Steele Brothers Dairies, Cascade Ranch House, Pescadero, San Mateo County, CA HABS CAL,41-PESC.V,2-B-1

    Steele Brothers Dairy Ranches

  • Tanforan Assembly center, San Bruno, California. Barracks for family living quarters. Each door en . . . - NARA - 537670

    Tanforan Assembly Center

  • Tunitas Beach & Tunitas Creek

    Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail at Tunitas Beach

  • Union Cemetery (Memorial Day, 2009)

    Union Cemetery

  • Woodside Store, 471 Kings Mountain Rd., Woodside, CA 9-18-2011 5-30-50 PM

    Woodside Store

  • Beach at Año Nuevo on an overcast day

    Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail at Año Nuevo

  • Bean Hollow Beach

    Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail at Bean Hollow

  • Half Moon Bay State Beach 1 2018-07-09

    Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail at Pilarcitos Creek

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