Plaza de César Chávez facts for kids
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The Plaza de César Chávez with St. Joseph's Cathedral-Basilica in the background.
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| Former name(s) | Plaza del Pueblo Plaza Mayor Market Plaza |
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| Area | 2.3-acre (9,000 m²) |
| Location | San Jose, California |
| Coordinates | 37°19′55″N 121°53′24″W / 37.332°N 121.89°W |
| Construction | |
| Foundation | 1797 |
The Plaza de César Chávez is a cool park and open space right in the middle of Downtown San Jose, California. It's super old, dating all the way back to 1797! Back then, it was called the Plaza Mayor by the Spanish people who founded the town of San José de Guadalupe. This makes it the oldest public space in Northern California. In 1993, the plaza was renamed to honor César Chávez, a famous Californian civil rights activist.
This plaza is one of San Jose's most important public areas and has always been the historic heart of Downtown San Jose. Many famous San Jose spots are around it, like The Tech Interactive, the San Jose Museum of Art, City National Civic, and Circle of Palms Plaza. The plaza is also a busy place for fun events, including the San Jose Jazz Festival, Music in the Park, and Christmas in the Park.
History of Plaza de César Chávez
The Plaza was created when San Jose moved to its current downtown spot in 1797. Before that, the town was located by the Guadalupe River. The Plaza has been used ever since, making it the oldest public open space in all of California.
This park was even the first capitol building for California! From 1849 to 1851, California became a state of the United States. During this time, the state's government met right here.
Later, from 1889 to 1958, San Jose's city hall was located in the center of the park. The local government then moved it to a different spot. Today, the San Jose City Hall is located nearby on Santa Clara Street. The Fairmont San Jose hotel's main tower was built next to the plaza in 1997, and its other tower was finished in 2002.
Fun Events and Culture at the Plaza
The Plaza de César Chávez is a lively place that hosts many different events throughout the year.
- You can enjoy live music concerts.
- There are cultural festivals that celebrate different traditions.
- You might find arts and crafts fairs where artists sell their creations.
- Delicious food shows and open-air theater performances also take place here.
- During winter, the official city Christmas tree lights up the plaza.
Every summer, free concerts are held in the park on Thursdays. It's a great way to enjoy music outdoors! The San Jose Jazz Festival also sets up its main stage in the park, bringing in famous jazz musicians.
Since 2015, the Silicon Valley Pride event has been held near the plaza. This event also took place in the plaza area back in the 1980s.
Every winter, from Thanksgiving until New Year's Day, the plaza hosts Christmas in the Park. It's a magical display with thousands of lights and decorations.
At the south end of the plaza, you can see a statue of Quetzalcoatl, which was created by the sculptor Robert Graham.
Images for kids
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The southern end of the plaza.
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1980 Silicon Valley Pride.
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