What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 11am - 3pm Thursday 11am - 3pm Friday 11am - 3pm Saturday 11am - 3pm

Martinez Historical Society

Name: Martinez Historical Society
Address: 1005 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA, 94553, US
Telephone: (925) 228-8160
Price range: Not applicable

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Martinez Historical Society

Call Directions Website Contact the museum

Visit our other websites:
www.MartinezHistory.org
www.MartinezHomeTour.com
www.MartinezOralHistory. It does so with an all-volunteer staff.

The Historical Society provides a long list of services to the community of Martinez. To see the list of services, visit the main website. The URL is as follows: http://www.martinezhistory.org/Services/services.html

Guidelines for participating in the Martinez Historical Society page

The purpose of the Martinez Historical Society (MHS) page is to serve as a mechanism for communication between the Society and members of the public. Site content and comments containing any of the following forms of content shall not be allowed:
a. Comments or hyperlinks not topically related to the particular article being commented upon or MHS business
b. Profane or threatening language or content
c. Sexual content or links to sexual content
d. Solicitations or commerce
e. Conduct or encouragement of illegal activity
f. Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems
g. Content that violates a legal ownership interest of any other party
h. Potentially libelous comments
i. Private or personal information published without consent
j. Content that is racist, sexist, queerphobic, xenophobic, slanderous, or generally intended to offend

The MHS reserves the right to restrict or remove any content that is deemed in violation of these social media guidelines or any applicable law.

10/14/2026

Martinez Museum Open House with our docents in character.

10/10/2026

In the late 1940s John Serpa moved his Buick/Pontiac dealership from Green Street, between Alhambra and Berrellessa, to a new building and location at the north end of Alhambra, again between Alhambra and Berrellessa.

This location now houses the City of Martinez Public Works Department

10/07/2026

HOLIDAY TEA AT THE MUSEUM
December 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, & 9th - 2026

- 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
- $55.00 per guest (cash or check only)
- By Prior Reservation Only
- Reservations made on a First Come First Served Basis
- Limited to 30 seats per day
- All guests must be over the age of eight

Borland Home - 1005 Escobar Street Martinez

To make a reservation contact Sandi:
925-387-0405 or [email protected]

10/03/2026

MARTINEZ MUSEUM OPEN HOUSE - SUNDAY

Here is an interesting historical marker posted at the Rankin Pool in Martinez, recognizing James Rankin, a prominent figure in local history. This Sunday, James Rankin will be honored at the Martinez Museum Open House from 2:00 to 5:00, where he will be portrayed by one of our docents in costume -- a living memory for families to experience together.

Rankin came here as a teenager to work in the coal mines of East County. He became a small business owner, rancher, and County Sheriff by 1885. After two terms as Sheriff, he went back to private business in 1893, eventually becoming President of the Bank of Martinez. Eight year later, while still running the bank, he died at 53 years old.

10/02/2026

MARTINEZ MUSEUM OPEN HOUSE - SUNDAY

Here is an interesting article by Harriet Burt, --one distinguished teacher honoring another. Both of these ladies are Martinez Legends as beloved educators and for their other community involvements. This Sunday, Rosalie Hadsell will be honored at the Martinez Museum Open House from 2:00 to 5:00, where she will be portrayed by one of our docents in costume -- a living memory for families to experience together.

She was a teacher here in Martinez from her early 20s, and remained in service of our youth as a leader in the Camp Fire Girls until her death in her mid 80s.

09/30/2026

Martinez Museum - 2026 Annual Open House

This coming Sunday October 5th will be a very exciting day at the Martinez Museum, our 2026 Annual Open House. There will be special displays and many costumed docents in character, playing roles of famous people from our local past. Please join us!

SUNDAY OCTOBER 4, 2026
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
1005 Escobar Street, Martinez

Light refreshments and beverages with bubbles.

You'll be surrounded by Martinez History and meet historical figures who shaped Martinez:

- Aunt Nell will be there to tell the multigenerational story of the famous quilt on display in the museum. In the 1940s Nell Holliday Brackman, wrote down the story of a quilt which began as a bet in the 1880s, though some of the needlework goes back to the mid 1800s.

- James Rankin came to the United States from Scotland as a teenager in 1865. In his twenties, he found his way to the coal mines of east county, but soon was a wealthy rancher, by his 30s he was our County Sheriff, and later a Bank President.

- Miss Rosalie Hadsel, a Martinez teacher from the 1920s to the 1960s, has many stories to share about the growth of education and the founding of schools still serving our youth today.

- A Historic Bartender will be there to discuss the origins of the famous Martini and Martinez Cocktail. In that era Martinez was a rough and tumble seaport with many saloons.

- Our docent in the Veteran’s Room is a bonafide war hero representing the many men and women who served in defense of our nation.

- Captain Otto Daeweritz was the Skipper of the 1901 schooner SV Forester, whose shipwreck sits in the mud off the Martinez shore. He sailed her around the Pacific as her only master and later owner until he died aboard her in 1947.

These folks will be sharing lives of adventure, passion, and valor, along with the hardships people faced as our community evolved from a Gold Rush frontier town to the vibrant community we enjoy today.

Address

1005 Escobar Street
Martinez, CA
94553

Opening Hours

Tuesday	11am - 3pm
Thursday	11am - 3pm
Friday	11am - 3pm
Saturday	11am - 3pm

Telephone

(925) 228-8160

Website

http://www.MartinezHistory.org/

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