Capitola Historical Museum

09/04/2026

During the Capitola Art & W**e Festival on Saturday, September 12th & Sunday the 13th stop by our display table in front of the Capitola Historical Museum and learn a little about the history about how our art colony began.

The admission free Capitola Historical Museum, located at 410 Capitola Avenue, is open every Friday through Sunday from noon until 4:00 p.m.

This year's exhibition is Multiple Personalities - The Stories Behind Capitola's Historic Buildings.

To learn more about the Capitola Art & W**e Festival click this link

Supporting Sponsors: The Capitola Art & W**e Festival is where creativity, community, and coastal charm come together. Hosted and organized by the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce, this treasured annual tradition draws thousands to Capitola for

08/24/2026

Here are a few photos from our recent history walk at the Park at Rispin Mansion which took place on Sunday, August 23rd. It was a beautiful day. We first gathered at the Capitola Library and then proceeded on a one hour tour of the park, discussing the history of Rispin Mansion and the man who built it and modernized Capitola in the 1920s, Henry Allen Rispin.

This is a new program for us this year and it has proven quite popular. We plan to do more. Since we are such a small museum we able not able to do them on a regular basis, so watch this space for future announcements.

One way to make sure that you do not miss out on any of our upcoming events is to become a museum member. The Capitola Historical Museum now offers a FREE Museum Membership and each month members will be sent an email membership bulletin announcing upcoming programs and events. To become a museum member you may go to https://www.cityofcapitola.gov/197/Become-a-Capitola-Historical-Museum-Memb

08/20/2026

The inaugural Capitola Palm Walk last Saturday, led by Museum Board President Brian Legakis, was a great success. Brian guided 33 visitors while imparting his knowledge about both the history and natural history of several types of palm trees found throughout Capitola Village.

The tour's highlight was learning more about the Canary Palm you still see today in the center of the Esplanade, across from Esplanade Park. This special palm is likely over 120 years old and was originally transplanted from Depot Hill down to its current location back in the early 1920s.

Originally the Canary Palm was planted to mark the entrance to the Grand Hotel Capitola, the 160-room Queen Anne/Colonial Revival hotel built for F.A. Hihn in 1895. Though the hotel burned to the ground in December 1929, the study palm survived and continues as, we believe, Capitola's oldest tree.

Thanks to Brian Legakis for this innovative and enjoyable tour. Hopefully, he will do more in the future.

Tour photographs courtesy of Museum Board Trustee Cami Corvin.

08/10/2026

The new Museum Facebook banner photo is a postcard likely dating from the late 1930s. The Venetian Court and the Concrete Garage can be seen in the background. Not certain what the building on the wharf may be. Back in 1927, Rispin built a Capitola Light Tackle Club that closed in two months due to lack of interest. The structure he built was put to other uses including boat storage but then burned in 1940. Any ideas what purpose this structure, if it is the same. was serving when this photograph was taken?

08/07/2026

Take a look a the August issue of the Capitola-Soquel Times for two stories related to one of the Capitola's most famous residents - Harry Hooper - baseball great, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and important Capitola leader.

Back on July 11th the Harry Hooper plaque was rededicated on the Capitola Wharf. In attendance were many members of the Hooper family, baseball fans, and representatives of the Capitola Historical Museum.

Read more about Harry Hooper's baseball career and the efforts his family and local baseball fans put forth to return his plaque to a place of honor.

 Restoring Local Legend’s Place on the Wharf: Community Celebrates Harry Hooper’s Contributions to Capitola • 54th Annual Wharf to Wharf Hits Its

08/02/2026

Before construction of the cable car system at Shadowbrook in 1958, a “duck boat” water taxi ferried patrons up Soquel Creek to the restaurant. The vehicle picked up passengers in Capitola Village and drove them across Soquel Creek to the landing at Shadowbrook.

One favorite and famous patron was often picked up by the duck boat at the Capitola-Santa Cruz Airport (site of today’s New Brighton Middle School) and driven into the Village and up the creek to his dinner destination. Understandable attention considering that patron was renown movie director Alfred Hitchcock who once owned a 200-acre estate above Scotts Valley from 1940-1970.

The water taxi was often photographed when filled with bathing suit clad beauties. The boat captain appears to be Brad MacDonald, one of the originators of Shadowbrook Restaurant in 1947.

07/29/2026

How You Can Help: Donations to the Capitola Historical Museum

Tax deductible financial donations to the Capitola Historical Museum are greatly appreciated and help support ongoing and special museum projects including

Native plant garden development

Purchase of museum quality storage materials, containers, and cabinets

Creation of special exhibitions

Purchase of history books for the Museum Volunteer reference library

Purchase of museum disaster preparedness and emergency recovery supplies

Museum donations can be made using the Autobooks website. Visitors can donate using Apple Pay or credit cards (VISA, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express)

https://app.autobooks.co/pay/city-of-capitola

Thank you!

Fast, simple, and secure. Make a donation to Capitola Historical Museum anytime, anywhere.