Capitola Historical Museum

10/13/2026

Did you know that Capitola is believed to be named after a strong, fearless woman character from one of the most popular American books the mid-19th century?

Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte (a.k.a. E.D.E.N.) Southworth (1819-1899) was one of America’s most popular authors during the second half of the nineteenth century. Her novel, The Hidden Hand (1859) featured the adventures of a young heroine named Capitola Black.

Through the exciting adventures of Capitola Black, Mrs. Southworth critiqued, according to Encylopedia.com “… middle-class presumptions and [threw] open to question the issue of gender role expectations in nineteenth-century America.”

Publication of The Hidden Hand was followed shortly by a sequel entitled, Capitola’s Peril. It is believed that Lulu Hall, a former Soquel teacher and daughter of the founder of Camp Capitola (Samuel A. Hall), suggested her father name his new seaside tent campground in 1874 after the heroine in Southworth’s series of popular novels.

Due to the popularity of Southworth’s novels featuring the character Capitola Black, many girls throughout the latter 19th century were bestowed the given name of Capitola.

You can access a free online version of The Hidden Hand via the Gutenberg website at
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29866 and an audio version via the LibriVox website at https://librivox.org/the-hidden-hand-by-eden-southworth/

There are competing origin stories about the naming of Capitola. To learn more, you can read the article by local historian Frank Perry entitled, The Naming of Capitola, located in the Online History Journal of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History at https://d2kr105htw9szj.cloudfront.net/uploads/Naming-of-Capitola.pdf?mtime=20210429181719&focal=none

10/12/2026

There are still six spaces open for our next tour (this time a bit about the mansion's spookier aspects) of the Park at Rispin Mansion which will take place on Sunday, October 25th from 11:00 a.m. until noon.

To secure a spot, you need to R.S.V.P. with an email to [email protected]

Remember, the Capitola Historical Museum has a FREE Museum membership. The first ones to hear about tours like this are museum members. If you would also like to become a museum member you may go to https://www.cityofcapitola.gov/197/Become-a-Capitola-Historical-Museum-Memb

The tour is of the Park at Rispin Mansion. The mansion itself remains closed to the public. For further information or question, you may call 831-464-0322.

10/06/2026

Next time you are in the Capitola Mall, take a look at our new exhibit on the history of the Brown Bulb Ranch. Our Capitola Historical Museum kiosk is located between Target and the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce.

At the exhibit kiosk you can also pick up some free handouts on local history topics like the Rispin Mansion, the Venetian Court and the Capitola Wharf. You can also get a copy of our Free Museum Membership brochure and/or a Museum volunteer application.

The admission free Capitola Historical Museum, located at 410 Capitola Avenue, is open every Friday through Sunday from noon until 4:00 p.m. The current annual exhibition is entitled, Multiple Personalities - The Stories Behind Capitola's Historic Buildings.

If you have questions about the museum, you may call 831-464-0322.

09/30/2026

Become a member of the Capitola Historical Museum through our FREE Museum Membership.

Such museum membership is a common way for museums around the world to help build attendance and grow a regional community of support.

We are encouraging, but not limiting, participation to folks in the Capitola, Soquel, Aptos, Santa Cruz and the greater Santa Cruz County area. All who are interested are welcome to sign up for our membership.

Membership Privileges:

Members will receive a monthly "Membership Bulletin" outlining upcoming events and activities in and around our museum and sometimes the greater Santa Cruz County museum community

Members Only Historic Tours of Capitola Village and other special tours*

Invitations to History Circles* - a way of sharing stories of our Capitola past.

Members Only Picnic*

A surprise gift from the Museum bookstore

Members tour during the annual exhibition soft opening in March

Please join us as Capitola Historical Museum Members and begin to enjoy the benefits offered this year. To sign up for the FREE Museum Membership, please fill out the form at this link:

https://www.cityofcapitola.gov/197/Become-a-Capitola-Historical-Museum-Memb

Sincerely, Deborah Osterberg, Museum Curator &
Brian Legakis, President of the Capitola Historical Museum Board of Trustees

For further information about the Museum or our FREE Museum Membership, you may call us at 831-464-0322 or email the Museum Curator at [email protected]

* Event dates and times will be announced in the monthly "Membership Bulletin"

09/28/2026

A few views of last night's wonderful Capitola Beach Festival Nautical Parade. Thank you to the Beach Festival Committee for asking me to be a judge for this year's parade. Congratulations to all the float builders.

09/26/2026

DON'T MISS OUT ON OUR SPECIAL CAPITOLA BEACH FESTIVAL RAFFLE AT THE CAPITOLA HISTORICAL MUSEUM THIS WEEKEND SEPT 26 & 27

You could win this beautiful reproduction of a Venetian Court motif!

Donated by Monterey Bay Cast Stone for the Capitola Historical Museum raffle, this bas-relief architectural ornament was reproduced from an original decorative element on Capitola’s historic Venetian Court. The original detail was carefully molded in place, then recreated using traditional mold-making and cast-stone techniques by Dave Wilber of Monterey Bay Cast Stone.

The resulting piece preserves the flowing ornamental design and craftsmanship of the original façade and offers a small, tangible piece of Capitola’s architectural history.

The motif, made of concrete, weighs approximately 40 lbs. and measures approximately 42” x 12” x 3”. The piece is valued at $500.

Raffle tickets (donations of $3 each ticket or 2 tickets for $5 or 5 tickets for $10)

The raffle prize drawing will take place on Sunday, September 27th at 3:00 p.m. You do not need to be present to win.

Come visit us at the Capitola Historical Museum during the Capitola Beach Festival (September 26-27). Come to buy a ticket for our raffle and to see our special Beach Festival display in front of the museum.

Come inside our admission free museum to view our 2026 exhibition, Multiple Personalities - The Stories Behind Capitola's Historic Buildings. The exhibition will continue every Friday through Sunday from noon until 4:00 p.m. through the end of December 2026.

If you have question you may email us at [email protected] or call 831-464-0322.

09/26/2026

Capitola Beach Festival - Saturday, September 26th and Sunday, September 27th

Come stop by the Capitola Historical Museum at 410 Capitola Avenue and check out our outdoor display and enter our raffle for a reproduction Venetian Court motif.

Home Capitola Beach Festival Sept 26 and 27, 2026 See our Schedule of Events for events & times. This Year’s Theme: TOY TAKEOVER! Facebook Instagram

09/24/2026

Your Chance to Win a Piece of Iconic Capitola History !

During the Capitola Beach Festival (September 26-27, 2026) the Capitola Historical Museum will be holding a raffle fundraiser, and the prize is a beautiful reproduction of an architectural motif from the iconic Venetian Court. Perfect for your garden or to grace your home.

Donated by Monterey Bay Cast Stone for the Capitola Historical Museum raffle, this bas-relief architectural ornament was reproduced from an original decorative element on Capitola’s historic Venetian Court. The original detail was carefully molded in place, then recreated using traditional mold-making and cast-stone techniques by Dave Wilber of Monterey Bay Cast Stone.

The resulting piece preserves the flowing ornamental design and craftsmanship of the original façade and offers a small, tangible piece of Capitola’s architectural history.

The motif, made of concrete, weighs approximately 40 lbs. and measures approximately 42” x 12” x 3”. The piece is valued at $500.

Raffle tickets (donations of $3 each ticket or 2 tickets for $5 or 5 tickets for $10) will be available at the Capitola Historical Museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 26th and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 27th .

The raffle prize drawing will take place on Sunday, September 27th at 3:00 p.m. You do not need to be present to win.

Come visit us at the Capitola Historical Museum during the Capitola Beach Festival (September 26-27). Come to buy a ticket for our raffle and to see our special Beach Festival display in front of the museum.

Come inside our admission free museum to view our 2026 exhibition, Multiple Personalities - The Stories Behind Capitola's Historic Buildings. The exhibition will continue every Friday through Sunday from noon until 4:00 p.m. through the end of December 2026.

If you have question you may email us at [email protected] or call 831-464-0322.