Museum gotta see 'um

SAN MATEO COUNTY HISTORY IS ALL AROUND YOU. Interested in a trip through the history of San Mateo County? Begin at The San Mateo County History Museum, a regional history center located in the Old County Courthouse in Redwood City. History comes alive as you discover the past through hands-on school programs, interactive exhibits and a wide range of events for both adults and families.

ROMANCE OF THE RAIL. Now on exhibit in the Courthouse rotunda is Romance of the Rail, including 11 oil paintings by award-winning artist Fred Sinclair that depict the Southern Pacific Railroad line from the 1930s through the 1970s. Modern trains are a part of our everyday lives and we often look back to the earlier trains with a sense of romantic nostalgia. At first trains were the alternative to stagecoaches and locally they provided transport for both freight and passengers. In 1864, the new San Francisco-San Jose Railroad became the first commuter railroad in the West. Purchased by Southern Pacific in 1890, and Caltrain in 1980, the line continues to transport commuters to and from work.

You can learn more about trains on the Peninsula at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 21 in the History Museum's Courtroom A, when local author Janet McGovern discusses her new book, Caltrain and the Peninsula Commute Service. The rail line now called Caltrain was started in the 1860s to create a faster alternative to stagecoaches and ships between the key cities of San Francisco and San Jose. Operated by the Southern Pacific for many years, the Peninsula Commute Service is the oldest continuously operating passenger railroad in the West. $5 for adults, $3 for seniors & students.

The San Mateo County History Museum is located at 2200 Broadway in Redwood City. The Museum Store offers books on local history, distinctive note cards and an assortment of books, toys and historic artifacts for children. Admission is free the first Friday of every month in 2012. For more information contact 299-0104 or www.historysmc.org.

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SAN MATEO HISTORY FIELD TRIPS. Easy day trips take you to where history happened.

DOLLARADIO STATION. Built about 1926, the station is now a private residence at 100 N. Palmetto Ave. in Pacifica. Commonly called "MR,” or Mussel Rock Station, the one-story "red” hollow tile structure was one of the earliest west coast ship-to-shore communication centers. Captain Robert Dollar of the American Merchant Marine had it built in order to communicate with his steamship line. In 1927 the station received the first word from Admiral Byrd's historic establishment of a camp on the Bay of Whales, Antarctica. The exterior is unaltered, though the interior was renovated from warehouse to living quarters around 1950. For information contact Joan Levin, 359-4893, or visit www.dollaradiostationpacifica.org.

SANCHEZ ADOBE. The Sanchez Adobe was constructed between 1842 and 1846 by Francisco Sanchez, owner of Rancho San Pedro and the one-time alcade of San Francisco. Sanchez, a leader of Mexican California who led volunteers against United States forces at the Battle of Santa Clara, raised cattle for the hide-and-tallow trade. When ships came to California, Sanchez could trade his hides for manufactured items. Known as the "California Dollar,” hides could be made into clothes, shoes and saddles. Tallow or cow fat was made into soap and candles. The site shows the different periods of local history, beginning when the Ohlone village of Pruristac was located on the site. The San Mateo County History Museum operates Sanchez Adobe as an historic house museum where visitors can explore the home, look at artifacts from archaeological digs and view the location of the original farm buildings. Admission is free. The museum offers school programs designed to teach students about life on a California rancho. The City of Pacifica celebrates early California history annually in mid-September with Rancho Days, including music, historical reenactments and food. 1000 Linda Mar Blvd., Pacifica. Tuesday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

WOODSIDE STORE. Dr. R.O. Tripp and Mathias Parkhurst built the Woodside Store in 1854. Early customers included loggers who worked in the area chopping down the redwoods. Tripp sold them everything from work boots and ax handles to flour and ham. When farmers settled in the area, the Woodside Store served as their county store, post office and community center until 1909. Tripp made frequent trips to San Francisco to get supplies. Anything you wanted, he could get. Browse the shelves of the Woodside Store, restored to its 1880s appearance, and see the goods available in the mid to late 1800s – from canned fruit and frying pans to nails and sewing machines. 3300 Tripp Road, Woodside. For information visit www.historysmc.org/woodside. Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Susan Cohn can be reached at susan@smdailyjournal.com or www.twitter.com/susancityscene.