Campbell Historical Museum and Ainsley House Foundation

Campbell Historical Museum and Ainsley House Foundation We're two history museums in Campbell, CA! Both museums are owned and operated by the city of Campbell.

The Ainsley House, a historic house museum, was the third home of local cannery owner John Colpitts Ainsley and his wife Alcinda. The Campbell Historical Museum offers artifacts that help visitors interpret and recall the vanishing world of Santa Clara County's past.

Place your bets on history! Join us for a fascinating History Happy Hour with Ted Ramos as we uncover the surprising his...
09/04/2026

Place your bets on history!
Join us for a fascinating History Happy Hour with Ted Ramos as we uncover the surprising history of gambling in San Jose!
Sip, socialize, and discover a side of local history they didn't teach in school!
$25/ person
9/18/26 @ 5:30 pm
At the Ainsley House
https://trst.in/vk4AWM

This 1940 wedding portrait of Julie Kenney is too lovely not to share. We have this dress in our collection as well.Obje...
09/03/2026

This 1940 wedding portrait of Julie Kenney is too lovely not to share. We have this dress in our collection as well.

Object ID: 2006.07.0003



SAN JOSE GAMBLING History Happy Hour Talk with Ted RamosFriday, September 185:30 pm-7:30 pm$25 / purchase tickets at cam...
09/02/2026

SAN JOSE GAMBLING History Happy Hour Talk with Ted Ramos

Friday, September 18
5:30 pm-7:30 pm
$25 / purchase tickets at campbellmuseums.com

Before Silicon Valley, San Jose was known for another kind of high-stakes industry. Join local historian Ted Ramos as he explores the fascinating world of gambling in early 20th-century San Jose. Drawing from his book San Jose Gambling, Ted will uncover the stories of the gaming dens, card houses, and colorful characters that made gambling a prominent part of the city's social and economic life.

Discover how these establishments operated, who frequented them, and how gambling helped shape San Jose's development during a period of rapid growth and change.

09/01/2026

Don't forget to get your tickets to our Groovin' in the Garden, A 70s Flashback Fundraiser on Saturday, September 26 from 6pm-9pm.

Tickets are a groovy $76! That's a cool, far-out price!
https://www.campbellmuseums.com/event-details/groovin

Can't wait to see you there!

Artist's illustration of Campbell Avenue looking west from Central Avenue. Dates to around 1970s.Object ID: 2006.04.0005...
09/01/2026

Artist's illustration of Campbell Avenue looking west from Central Avenue. Dates to around 1970s.

Object ID: 2006.04.0005




Ever wanted to decorate for the holidays on a scale your living room ceiling just can’t handle? Now’s your chance!We’re ...
08/27/2026

Ever wanted to decorate for the holidays on a scale your living room ceiling just can’t handle? Now’s your chance!

We’re looking for volunteer decorators to transform Campbell’s historic Ainsley House for the 2026 holiday season. It’s completely free to participate, and you’ll get to bring your most over-the-top design dreams to life inside a stunning local landmark.

This year’s theme is Hollywood Holiday! Pick your favorite holiday film and design a room inspired by it. Movie concepts and room selections are strictly first-come, first-served—so snag your favorite cinematic scene early! 🍿🎄

How to join:
Head to campbellmuseums.com

Click the "What's On" tab and select Holidays at Ainsley House

Review the guidelines, key dates, and submit your registration form

🗓️ Application Deadline: September 23

Tag a creative friend who needs to see this!🎥✨

68th Annual Old Settlers' Day Celebration Queen and Princesses. From left, Princess Emiline Smith, Queen Judy Boyd, and...
08/26/2026

68th Annual Old Settlers' Day Celebration Queen and Princesses. From left, Princess Emiline Smith, Queen Judy Boyd, and Princess Layne Hecker. Taken in 1960.

Photographer: Marlin Rowe

Object ID: 2006.01.0002





Artist illustration of parking area between Central Avenue and First Street, south of Civic Center Drive (aka our museum...
08/20/2026

Artist illustration of parking area between Central Avenue and First Street, south of Civic Center Drive (aka our museum parking lot!). Second image is photograph of the same scene. Illustration dates to the 1970s.

Object ID: 2006.04.0001 and 2006.04.0007




Lot map along Eden Ave, bisected by Cadillac Drive and Impala Drive. Map details existing water mains and proposed addit...
08/19/2026

Lot map along Eden Ave, bisected by Cadillac Drive and Impala Drive. Map details existing water mains and proposed additions. Map is labeled in lower right as Tract 3939, Alvernaz Estates Unit #4, The Campbell Water Co. and is part of our Campbell Water Company archives.

Object ID: 2005.13.0002.0126




401 E Campbell Ave has has many lives. Built as the Growers National Bank in 1921, it eventually became the Gaslighter T...
08/13/2026

401 E Campbell Ave has has many lives. Built as the Growers National Bank in 1921, it eventually became the Gaslighter Theatre which screened movies.

By the 1960s, it was a theater for live plays, and by the 1990s it was a popular live music venue for underground and rock music, closing in 2006.

This image was taken in 1988 and shows Dr. Tom Miranda standing in front of the theater doors. Tom worked as a projectionist in the late 1940s, paying for his college education and that of his sister, Lorraine.

Object ID: 2005.10.0007





Address

51 N. Central Avenue
Campbell, CA
95008

Opening Hours

Friday 12pm - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+14088662119

Website

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