Campbell Historical Museum and Ainsley House Foundation

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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.

Pre-1956 photo of Campbell Union High School (completed ~1938) and the surrounding orchard property. Image was taken fr...
10/20/2026

Pre-1956 photo of Campbell Union High School (completed ~1938) and the surrounding orchard property. Image was taken from a light weight plane, specifically a two passenger Luscombe. Wi******er Blvd and Campbell Avenue are clearly visible in the image, and Wi******er Blvd has not yet been widened, which happened around 1956.

Pay special attention to the West side of the auditorium building (Heritage Theater) - there is a T.B.F. Avenger Torpedo Bomber parked next to it. Our review of the Campbell Press newspapers did not uncover the reason it was there, though in July of 1943 there were airplane identification classes taking place on campus to teach Citizen Observers how to spot planes. Observers studied silhouette charts and model airplanes to distinguish friendly aircraft from potential German or Japanese intruders and to alert the US Air Force and navy to air attack or reconnaissance by the enemy.

object ID: 2009.18.0001

J.C. Ainsley Packing Co. and train tracks along Campbell Ave, circa 1905. Second image show modern day image from simila...
10/16/2026

J.C. Ainsley Packing Co. and train tracks along Campbell Ave, circa 1905. Second image show modern day image from similar vantage point.

Object ID: 2009.09.0006

Circa 1915. image of Everet Avenue looking Westward towards Second Street. The home at the end of the road, 86 S Second ...
10/13/2026

Circa 1915. image of Everet Avenue looking Westward towards Second Street. The home at the end of the road, 86 S Second Street, still stands today. The Water Tower would be behind the photographer.

Object Id: 2009.09.0001

What did life look like in Campbell when the world was at war?Long before it became the community we know today, Campbel...
10/13/2026

What did life look like in Campbell when the world was at war?

Long before it became the community we know today, Campbell played a vital role during World War I and World War II.
From the fruit orchards and canneries that supplied food to troops overseas to the local families who watched their brave sons and daughters head to the front lines, our town's wartime history is deeply inspiring.

Friday, Oct 16
5:30pm-7:30pm
at the Ainsley Carriage House
$25/ person
https://trst.in/auexcY






The last day of service on the Campbell cutoff of the Peninsula Railway. Image taken on April 1, 1932 looking west at th...
10/09/2026

The last day of service on the Campbell cutoff of the Peninsula Railway. Image taken on April 1, 1932 looking west at the San Jose - Los Gatos Road (later Bascom) and National Avenue stop. Shows a woman with flowers stepping onto the San Jose - Campbell - Los Gatos number 59 car.

Object ID: 2009.05.0012

What does "home" mean to you? A physical sanctuary, a cherished memory, or a sense of belonging? Explore 29 incredible i...
10/08/2026

What does "home" mean to you? A physical sanctuary, a cherished memory, or a sense of belonging? Explore 29 incredible interpretations of this theme at our new art exhibition!

Featuring 15 adult and 14 youth artworks, this collection highlights the diverse voices of our community. Plus, you get to be the judge—vote for your favorite piece in each age category, and the winning designs will be transformed into temporary public art!

🗓️ When: Fri–Sun, 11 AM–3 PM
📍 Where: The Ainsley House
🎟️ Admission: Free!

Come cast your vote and support local artists!

The South Pacific Coast Railroad (later Southern Pacific Railroad) Union Avenue Station, which was located on the southe...
10/06/2026

The South Pacific Coast Railroad (later Southern Pacific Railroad) Union Avenue Station, which was located on the southeast corner of Union and Railroad (Camden) Avenues. Photo c. 1908.

Object ID: 2009.05.0013

The Holidays are calling... and they say it's TEA TIME! The 32nd annual Holiday Tea and Tour tickets at the Ainsley Hou...
10/06/2026

The Holidays are calling... and they say it's TEA TIME!
The 32nd annual Holiday Tea and Tour tickets at the Ainsley House are on sale now!
https://www.campbellmuseums.com/events-main

December 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13.

Grab your friends, and we'll pour the tea!

10/03/2026

Visit us for the Annual Citywide Garage Sale today! The Campbell Historical Museum will be holding a yard sale fundraiser in the parking lot from 9am-2pm today, October 3rd.
Your purchase helps support museum exhibits, collections care, and field trips.

51 N. Central Ave, Downtown Campbell. Across from City Hall and Library.

Join us as we round out History Happy Hour for 2026. We have two talks remaining: Friday, October 16, 5:30 pm-7:30 pm: C...
10/02/2026

Join us as we round out History Happy Hour for 2026. We have two talks remaining:

Friday, October 16, 5:30 pm-7:30 pm: Campbell During Wartime with David Blinn

Friday, November 6, 5:30 pm-7:30 pm: How the West (of San Jose) Was Won (and Lost)
A look at how the Santa Clara Valley property changed hands through early historic eras and some stories of those early Campbell area pioneers with Nick Garcia

Visit campbellmuseums.com to see "what's on" for upcoming events and purchase tickets. HHH is $25 and includes light refreshments before the talk.

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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