San Mateo County History Museum marks Old-Fashioned Fourth

Redwood City’s Fourth of July parade has been officially hosted by the Peninsula Celebration Association since 1939, and it deems it the largest Independence Day parade in Northern California. And yet the start of such a valued tradition is dated back to the late 1880s. Mitch Postel, president of the Historical Association, said that photos by James Van Court are the earliest record in the museum archives of the parade. 

As the first established city in the county in 1867, Redwood City serves as the county seat that Postel said gives the city great pride in its traditions and patriotism. 

“He was actually an amateur photographer turned professional,” Postel said. “He did more to be able to document the history of Redwood City, Belmont and the San Carlos area than practically anyone else because not only would he take portraits of people, but he would actually get out and take pictures of people at work.” 

Old-Fashioned Fourth

With more opportunity to explore Redwood City’s Victorian roots, this Saturday, the museum will be hosting an Old-Fashioned Fourth with antique holiday crafts. Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., admissions will be half-price and free for kids under 5. 

Inside the Rotunda room of the museum, guests can make pinwheels, paper sparklers, tissue paper parachutes or play an old kids game of “Progressive Mining.” There will also be a screening of short films on the old courthouse’s history in Courtroom A. Carmen Blair, deputy director of the San Mateo County Historical Association, is an organizer of the event, and used craft ideas from “The American Girl’s Handy Book” published in 1887, honoring the Victorian-era theme. 

Published by sisters Lina and Adelia B. Beard, the classic turn-of-the-century guide was meant to inspire girls through creative handy projects for different seasons of the year. According to Courier Corporation, the book’s philosophy and activities were hugely impactful in the later establishment of the Campfire Girls. 

“It was a nationally published book, and there’s a lot of emphasis on making decorations,” Blair said. “‘The American Boy’s Handybook stressed things that exploded.” 

Walking tours

Looking ahead into the next months of summer, the Historical Association is offering free walking tours in various locations around the Peninsula every week. Working with local historians, experts are sharing the micro-history of neighborhoods, architecture, landmarks and cemeteries of the county through one- to two-hour walks. Visitors can tour places such as Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Burleigh Murray Ranch, the Cow Palace or local neighborhoods whose stories have been long buried through a historic lens. Dates and times can be found on its website. (historysmc.org/events-calendar/list/?hide_subsequent_recurrences=1)

On Aug. 8, the museum will be hosting a Victorian Days event on a free admissions day. The event will be another opportunity for kids to explore crafts from the era, and there will be a fashion show of the museum’s collected women’s period pieces. Wedding dresses, gowns, hats and shoes have all been collected by donations. Blair said the oldest piece is from the 1840s, though the piece is too delicate to be worn anymore. 

The museum works to host the fashion show annually, however, the slim Victorian-era clothing poses a challenge when finding models. In the past, a 10-year-old girl was the best model to wear a wedding dress from the collection.