SPH&MS

The San Pablo Historical and Museum Society (SPH&MS) manages two fully furnished historic homes as museums: the Alvarado Adobe & Blume House.

We are regularly open on the first Saturday of the month from 11am to 3pm. The San Pablo Historical & Museum Society manages two fully furnished historic homes. The Alvarado Adobe is a re-creation of the 1840 adobe house that was home to Governor of California Juan Bautista Alvarado. The Blume House is a 1905 farmhouse decorated with items of the period and its Bunkhouse has farm machinery from th

at same period. Alvarado Adobe: Church Lane at San Pablo Avenue. Blume House: 13873 San Pablo Avenue. We are also open by appointment to individuals and groups as well. For more information call or email: 510-255-7488 or [email protected]

05/01/2026

💃🏻🪇🐎 Cinco de Mayo events are around the corner, so why not come on down to the San Pablo Museums this Saturday, May 2nd.

While General Zaragoza's smaller, poorly equipped Mexican militia defeated a larger, better-trained French army at Puebla on May 5, 1862, the Castro's of rancho San Pablo were still fighting to keep the land grant assessed to them against various illegal possessors.

You may discover something you never knew about your hometown. 🤔

💥 Our museums will be open this Saturday, May 2nd, from 11am to 3pm 💥

🎟️ FREE Admission 🎟️
👇 👇 👇 👇 👇
Alvarado Adobe: 13831 San Pablo Ave
Blume House: 13873 San Pablo Ave

The Alvarado adobe museum is located at the corner of San Pablo Avenue and Church Lane. The Blume House is behind a covered parking area, next door to Las Montañas supermarket.

Museum tours can also be arranged by appointment for individuals, families and groups by emailing 📩: [email protected] or calling ☎️ (510) 255-7488.

And don't forget to check out our website which is packed with more history! 📜

https://sites.google.com/sanpablohistoricalsociety.com/museum

04/25/2026

1860s: Law concerning Marks and Brands and Rodeos in Contra Costa County.

If you're thinking of today's rodeos, a sporting event that involves horses and other livestock, designed to test the skill and speed of its participants that comprises roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, etc., you'd be way off. 🐎

Driven by the hide-and-tallow trade, this system of rounding up livestock was managed by vaqueros (Mexican cowboys) who used reatas (lassos) to gather cattle for branding, counting, and separation based on ownership. The practice followed California's 19th-century Spanish ranchero traditions, where cattle from various owners were rounded up twice a year to identify, brand, and castrate calves in the spring, or slaughter for hides and tallow in the fall. 🐂🏇🏻🐄

Because cattle from multiple, neighboring ranches grazed freely together, the rodeo was essential to sort herd ownership. Spring was for branding new calves, while the fall roundup was used to determine which steers were ready for slaughter. A Juez de campo (field judge), was present at rodeos to settle ownership disputes. Every ranchero registered their unique brand with local government officials.

During the Mexican era (1821–1848), agriculture and ranching on Rancho San Pablo also centered on extensive cattle operations under Don Francisco María Castro, who received the grant in 1823. The rancho supported large herds estimated at 1,400 head of cattle, 600 sheep, and 600 horses that grazed freely across the unfenced lands, providing meat, hides, and tallow for trade with American merchants along the California coast. This hide-and-tallow economy dominated from the 1820s to the 1840s, with cattle driven to ports like San Francisco for export, leveraging the rancho's proximity to San Pablo Bay. Castro established headquarters near Wildcat Creek, where basic processing occurred, including rendering tallow for candles and soap. 🕯️🧼🛁

Today's rodeos were originally based on the skills required of these working vaqueros. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaquero

Learn more about San Pablo and its Rancho history by visiting our museums on the First Saturday of each month. Our next opening will be next Saturday, May 2nd from 11AM to 3:00PM. 🎟️ FREE Admission 🎟️

Alvarado Museum: 13831 San Pablo Avenue, San Pablo, CA 94806
Blume House: 13873 San Pablo Avenue, San Pablo, CA 94806.

More info: (510) 255-7488, [email protected]

04/03/2026

👨🏻‍⚖️ 📜 The San Pablo Justice Court 🏛️⚖️

The first official courthouse in San Pablo was on the main avenue then known as Alvarado Street in an unassuming structure that looked like someone's home (see attached).

Of course, after many years a new city hall and civic center with courthouse, jail, police department and other administrative offices were built on Market Avenue at 21st Street. Eventually, San Pablo outgrew those facilities and moved to the then newly built complex known as Alvarado Square, on San Pablo Avenue corner of Church Lane, back to its place of origin. The following is a glimpse into the San Pablo Justice Court's activities during its tenure from the 1900s to the 1950s.

🔹San Pablo Justice court case: Howard M Abramson for reckless driving crashing into Mrs. Wagtenbarger.
🔹San Pablo Justice court case to protect wild birds.
🔹San Pablo Justice Court case: Fidel Lionette vs Richmond poundman for goats unlawfully taken.
🔹San Pablo Justice Court case: 3 youths attempt to "steal" plane from San Pablo flying field.
🔹San Pablo Justice Court case: Antonio Soito vs Mrs. J.A. Whitten for $90 damages of auto in crash.
🔹San Pablo Justice Court case: SPPD vs Francis Cole for over limit (weight) of lumber truck.
🔹San Pablo Justice Court case: M. Silva vs Harbor Creamery.
🔹Suit on file against changing San Pablo Justice Court to a municipal court.
🔹San Pablo Justice Court became a municipal court in August 1957.
🔹San Pablo Justice Court relocated to Moitoza's garage at Church & Alvarado Street (San Pablo Ave).

Domestic disputes, unlawful cohabitation, illegal activities, fights in saloons, murder plots for revenge, this, and so much more, (some of which have been mentioned above), can be found in the files and court ledger archived at the Blume House museum.

Come on down to the San Pablo Museums. You may discover something shocking about your ancestors or their neighbors. 🤔

💥 Our museums will be open this Saturday, April 4, from 11am - 3pm 💥

🎟️ FREE Admission 🎟️

👇 👇 👇 👇 👇
Alvarado Adobe: 13831 San Pablo Ave
Blume House: 13873 San Pablo Ave

The Alvarado adobe museum is located at the corner of San Pablo Avenue and Church Lane. The Blume House is behind a covered parking area, next door to Las Montañas supermarket.

Museum tours can also be arranged by appointment for individuals, families and groups by emailing 📩: [email protected] or calling ☎️ (510) 255-7488.

And don't forget to check out our website which is packed with more history! 📜

https://sites.google.com/sanpablohistoricalsociety.com/museum

03/14/2026

c1966 postcard for San Pablo, California. 🖼️

How many landmarks/buildings can you identify? 🔎

Location hint: San Pablo Avenue runs at the bottom with Road 20 at right. At left is a continuation of Broadway before renamed El Portal Drive in 1969. 🛣️

~History Rox 🦋

03/06/2026

⏰👉‼️REMINDER‼️👈⏰

What's not to love about a museum? You learn new things and you see many interesting items related to local history.

The San Pablo Historical & Museum Society maintains an archive of historic photos and documents chronicling the history of San Pablo.

We invite you to visit the Blume House and the Alvarado Adobe museums in person this Saturday, March 7th from 11AM to 3PM.

💥Admission is always FREE!💥

👇 👇 👇 👇 👇
Alvarado Adobe: 13831 San Pablo Ave
Blume House: 13873 San Pablo Ave

Museum tours can also be arranged by appointment for individuals, families and groups by emailing 📩: [email protected] or calling ☎️ (510) 255-7488.

And while you're here, become a member and help preserve San Pablo's History by filling out an application!

And don't forget to check out our website which is packed with more history! 📜
https://sites.google.com/sanpablohistoricalsociety.com/museum

02/05/2026

💥 Our museums will be open this Saturday, February 7, from 11am - 3pm. Free Admission! 💥

Come on by and learn all about San Pablo; it's indigenous origins and the Rancho period (1776-1846) that led to its agricultural era (1847-1940). Learn about its days of saloons, and later the numerous bars that dotted its main road...San Pablo Avenue. Learn of scandal and corruption within the city administration...and so much more! 😱

Eventually, San Pablo shed its negative history and began a boom of building; farmland was subdivided for housing tracts during the first decade of the 20th century (most of the streets laid out at that time are still in use today); a new shopping center was planned and built, with a new college nearby. All this and more await you. What will you discover? 🤔

👇 👇 👇 👇 👇
Alvarado Adobe: 13831 San Pablo Ave
Blume House: 13873 San Pablo Ave

The Alvarado adobe museum is located at the corner of San Pablo Avenue and Church Lane. The Blume House is behind a parking area, next door to Las Montañas supermarket.

Museum tours can also be arranged by appointment for individuals, families and groups by emailing 📩: [email protected] or calling ☎️ (510) 255-7488.

And don't forget to check out our website which is packed with more history! 📜

https://sites.google.com/sanpablohistoricalsociety.com/museum

01/07/2026

A look back at the San Pablo Fire Department. 🚒👨🏻‍🚒🧯

was initially located at 13928 San Pablo Avenue (across from San Pablo Automotive).

This article from SAN PABLO NEWS for 23 Dec 1949, shows SPFD HQ decorated for Christmas.

Caption: THE NATIVITY TABLEAUX is given a beautiful presentation by the San Pablo Fire Department at its headquarters on San Pablo avenue. Floodlighted at night, the scene portraying Christ's birth is well worth a special trip to see. Right down the street is another exceptional display at the Sanitary District building. —Photo by Staff Photographer.

Also included is a photo of the former SPFD HQ.

https://www.facebook.com/San-Pablo-Fire-Dept-Station-70-148776581848706/

12/24/2025

The San Pablo Historical and Museum Society (SPH&MS) wishes you and yours a very Happy Holiday and a Merry Everything!

Our museums will be open on the 3rd for the first Saturday of January 2026 from 11AM to 3PM. Start the New Year with a tour of the Alvarado Adobe, the Blume and Bunk House and learn San Pablo's intriguing history! See you next year!! 🗓️

꧁࿔˚⋆ ░H░A░P░P░Y░ 🎀 ░H░O░L░I░D░A░Y░S ⋆˚꧂

✨🧅❆ ͙͛ ̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙ 📜🎄❄️☃️🎅🏼🎁🦌🛷🧸🎄⛄🤶📜 ̩̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙ ❆🧅✨

12/20/2025

It's a Blume House Christmas! 🎄

Our tree is up and beautifully decorated thanks to our wonderful board member-volunteers. Thank you, Anna, Janet and Sandy!

♪♫ o tannenbaum, o tannenbaum ♪♫

꧁࿔˚⋆ ░H░A░P░P░Y░ 🎀 ░H░O░L░I░D░A░Y░S ⋆˚꧂

✨🧅❆ ͙͛ ̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙ 📜🎄❄️☃️🎅🏼🎁🦌🛷🧸🎄⛄🤶📜 ̩̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙ ❆🧅✨

https://32850-nat-king-cole.mp3.pm/song/187707851-o-tannenbaum-o-christmas-tree/

12/14/2025

Once Upon a Time...📖

The San Pablo "Christmas Toy Shop" was organized in the early 1950s under the direction of Fire Chief Manuel Mello, aided by many local volunteers. Donations were contributed by various schools, PTA's, other organizations and fund-raisers.

Many area residents and groups contributed numerous hours, perhaps months of planning and preparations, to make Christmas dreams a reality for children of needy families who otherwise wouldn't receive any gifts or toys at Christmas. 🎁🚂🧸 Also cooperating in this project were the San Pablo and Richmond Police Departments. 👮🏻‍♂️

Wishing all...
꧁࿔˚⋆ ░H░A░P░P░Y░ 🎀 ░H░O░L░I░D░A░Y░S ⋆˚꧂
✨🧅❆ ͙͛ ̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙ 📜🎄❄️☃️🎅🏼🎁🦌🛷🧸🎄⛄🤶📜 ̩̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙ ❆🧅✨

12/05/2025

⏰👉‼️REMINDER‼️👈⏰

The Alvarado Adobe and Blume House Museums will be open THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 from 11am-3pm. Come out and get a FREE Ornament at the Blume House. Admission is always FREE! 🎟️

The Adobe is at the NW corner of Church Lane and San Pablo Avenue, and the Blume House is located at 13831 San Pablo Avenue (next door to Las Montañas Supermarket behind the parking lot).

For more information, call (510) 255-7488 or email: [email protected]

꧁࿔˚⋆ ░H░A░P░P░Y░ 🎀 ░H░O░L░I░D░A░Y░S ⋆˚꧂
✨🧅 ͙͛ ̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙ 📜🎄❄️☃️🎅🏼🎁🦌🛷🧸🎄⛄🤶📜 ̩̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙ 🧅✨

Address

13873 San Pablo Avenue
San Pablo, CA
94806

Telephone

+15102557488

Website

http://sites.google.com/sanpablohistoricalsociety.com/museums/home

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when SPH&MS posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to SPH&MS:

Shortcuts

Want your museum to be the top-listed Museum in San Pablo?