Historical Sites in Redwood City, California
Redwood City, California, is a municipality on northern California's San Francisco Peninsula. The city was founded in 1856 as a port for transporting lumber from California's redwood forests. One year later, Redwood City was named the seat of San Mateo County. As a center of both industry and government, Redwood City has a number of historic buildings and sites for visitors to explore.
Historic Government Buildings
As the seat of San Mateo County since 1857, Redwood City has several historic local and county government buildings. The San Mateo County Courthouse, built in 1910, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and now houses the San Mateo County History Museum. The building is the fourth courthouse to stand at the same Broadway address. The Redwood City Public Library on Middlefield Road is housed in a 1921 building that was originally constructed as Redwood City Fire Station No. 1. The library has an extensive local history collection.
Historic Private Buildings
The oldest commercial building in Redwood City is the Diller/Chamberlain Store building on Main Street, built in 1859. In addition to housing a general store, the structure was home to a Wells Fargo Express overland mail office from 1875 to 1911. The Lathrop House on Hamilton Avenue was built in 1863 in the Carpenter Gothic style. It was moved from its original location on Broadway in 1905. The house, former residence of a Civil War general, a county sheriff and a county clerk, is open to the public several days each week.
The Union Cemetery on Woodside Road (California Route 84) is a 6-acre burial ground and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The cemetery was established in 1859, and its last burial took place in 1963. More than 2,400 marked and unmarked plots dot the grounds. Those buried there include about 40 Civil War veterans, housed in a special Grand Army of the Republic plot. While many of the oldest stone markers are in disrepair, the Historic Union Cemetery Association is leading an effort to restore the burial grounds.
Redwood Creek Waterfront
The Redwood City waterfront on Redwood Creek is where the history of the city begins. When the creek was discovered in1851, it was found to be a desirable shipping port for lumber coming from the nearby redwood forests. The port also was a site for shipbuilding from the 1850s until the 1880s. Cargo ships still utilize what today is known as the Port of Redwood City. While the port bears little resemblance to the original port of the 1800s, many structures that were built in the 1920s and 1930s still stand.
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