The Palo Alto Museum is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that is developing the first history museum for the Palo Alto and Stanford community.

For well over a century, astonishing people in Palo Alto have created innovations that affect the lives of millions of people around the globe. The Palo Alto and Stanford University community is uniquely poised at the intersection of intellectual, technological, financial and green-energy trends. In many ways, Palo Alto is among the most influential communities in the world—rich with heritage and pride.

Housed in the historic Roth Building at 300 Homer Avenue, the museum will be a new cultural destination in Palo Alto for anyone interested in learning about this creative community and, with its legacy of innovations, how it is always inspiring the future. Participatory exhibits, programs and events will explore how the past has shaped today’s community, and challenge us to imagine its future.

The museum project was conceived and initiated by four long-established organizations: Palo Alto Historical Association, University South Neighborhood Association, Palo Alto-Stanford Heritage, and the Museum of American Heritage.

Community leaders with a wide spectrum of interests support the project. Endorsements include the Palo Alto Woman’s Club, the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Art League, Canopy, and the Palo Alto Housing Corporation. At Stanford University, we are endorsed by the Stanford Historical Society, Professor Gordon Chang and the Stanford Special Collections and University Archives.

As the permanent home of the City Archives, the Palo Alto Museum will document the remarkable heritage of Palo Alto through the careful collection, preservation and interpretation of historic materials. Partnering with schools, the museum will be a resource for teachers and students to augment core curriculum studies.