Martinez Museum

Martinez Museum www.MartinezHistory.org/

plus more sites:

www.MartinezHomeTour.com/
www.MartinezOralHistory.org/ There are three functions housed in the Borland House:

1.

Museum hours are 11 am to 3 pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Visitors and researchers can often be accommodated at other times by making an advance appointment. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Martinez Museum was closed to the public though researchers could gain entry by appointment. However, the Museum fully reopened on the 4th of July. 2021

The Museum is located in the 1890 Borland

House. A museum which focuses on the history of the city of Martinez.
2. A local history library where you can do research on the history of your community, local businesses, local families, your house and more.
3. An archival service which houses unbound and unpublished historical documents such as photographs, letters, postcards, newspaper articles and the like. To reach the Museum by email, use the following address: [email protected]

To reach the new Museum Director, Vivian Rittenhouse, use this email address: [email protected]

To leave a telephone message at the Museum, call (925) 228-8160.

Today this Main Street building houses Starbucks. But during the shopping district's heyday, it housed Modern Eve, a cl...
06/01/2026

Today this Main Street building houses Starbucks. But during the shopping district's heyday, it housed Modern Eve, a classic women's apparel store. During the 1950s and 1960s, Main Street was lined with competing, family-owned specialty shops. Modern Eve was a go-to fashion destination for women throughout the County looking for everyday clothing, formal wear, and contemporary styles. The clothing ecosystem of the time in downtown Martinez also included smaller shops such as Jay-Vees, Mode-O-Day, Florances Shop, Arlene's and Marguerites. Plus department stores such as Hilson's and Penny's.

The 150-year Sequicentennial Exhibit at the Martinez Museum includes photos of many buildings well-known in the town's p...
05/28/2026

The 150-year Sequicentennial Exhibit at the Martinez Museum includes photos of many buildings well-known in the town's past. The Y-Club was a beloved mid-20th-century bar and restaurant located near the "Y" in the road at the intersection of Alhambra Avenue and Alhambra Way in Martinez. Owned and operated by Charlie and Marion Sly, the establishment served as a popular local watering hole famous for its oak-wood barbecued dinners.

At the Martinez Museum, there is a new display of Martinez buildings that reprises the similar and larger exhibit set up...
05/23/2026

At the Martinez Museum, there is a new display of Martinez buildings that reprises the similar and larger exhibit set up last month at City Hall. Such displays are part of the 150-year Martinez Sesquicentennial. The Martinez Refinery provided funding to the Society to underwrite the costs of preparing sesquicentennial exhibits throughout the year.

Drop by the Martinez Museum to see the new exhibits and re-visit the permanent ones. This is the Museum's Polyphon, a m...
05/08/2026

Drop by the Martinez Museum to see the new exhibits and re-visit the permanent ones. This is the Museum's Polyphon, a mechanical music box that was mass produced in Germany from 1896 onward and was very popular in American parlors.

Please join us on Sunday afternoon, January 25th at 1:00, at the Veterans Hall at 930 Ward Street, Martinez, for a prese...
01/19/2026

Please join us on Sunday afternoon, January 25th at 1:00, at the Veterans Hall at 930 Ward Street, Martinez, for a presentation by the Martinez Oral History team. This small but mighty team of between 6 and 7 volunteers have been interviewing Martinez senior citizens since 2007. The goal is to share the history of our town through the voices of those who actually lived their lives here. Although many of interviewees have passed away, their videos live on.

Enjoy this vintage card -- and a Happy New Year to you and your family from the Martinez Museum!
01/02/2026

Enjoy this vintage card -- and a Happy New Year to you and your family from the Martinez Museum!

The next major event sponsored by the Historical Society is The Holiday Tea at the Martinez Museum. However, this 6-day...
11/10/2025

The next major event sponsored by the Historical Society is The Holiday Tea at the Martinez Museum. However, this 6-day event in December sold out quickly this year. For those who missed obtaining tickets to this year's Tea, though, it will be repeated again next Christmas.

10/04/2025
The Martinez Historical Society, John Muir Association, and the Martinez Library have partnered to bring you a wonderfu...
09/09/2025

The Martinez Historical Society, John Muir Association, and the Martinez Library have partnered to bring you a wonderful presentation about nearby Crockett, and how it evolved in the 20th Century. Please join us on Sunday September 14th at 1:00 pm. The location will be the Veterans Memorial Building at 930 Ward Street in Martinez. This presentation is open to the public at no charge with no reservations needed.

Address

1005 Escobar Street
Martinez, CA
94553

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 3pm
Thursday 11am - 3pm
Saturday 11am - 3pm

Telephone

+19252288160

Website

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