Palo Alto Museum

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07/23/2026

Meet Dana Tom, one of our newest Palo Alto Museum Board members!

A Stanford electrical engineer and Palo Alto resident since 1998, Dana has spent decades in service to this community, nine years as an elected trustee of the Palo Alto Unified School District, President of Palo Alto Players, President of the Rotary Club of Palo Alto, and PTA President at Duveneck Elementary, just to name a few.

"I'm excited to join the Palo Alto Museum early enough to help shape its direction, testing ideas and adjusting course as we learn what works. The museum has a rare opportunity to show that Palo Alto's story of innovation is really a story about community."

Welcome to the Board, Dana!

07/22/2026

Please welcome Peter Hebert, one of two new members joining the Palo Alto Museum Board this July!

Peter co-founded Lux Capital with a simple belief: back the founders building things everyone else says are impossible. Today Lux manages $7 billion across AI, biotech, robotics, energy, and defense, with early bets on companies like Hugging Face, Anduril, and Runway.

But Peter's connection to Palo Alto runs deep. He moved here from New York in 2011 and lived in an apartment overlooking the Museum.

"With a deep commitment to this local community and a lifelong passion for history, especially the history of Palo Alto and Silicon Valley, I am honored to support the launch of this lasting institution."

Welcome, Peter!

06/30/2026

Over the weekend, we hosted a sold-out garden benefit celebrating the legacy of architect Birge Clark, and more than 50 community members showed up to be part of it.

Long-time Palo Altans, Birge Clark homeowners, and new Museum supporters gathered in two private gardens, set against the backdrop of Clark's iconic architecture, and strolled past more of his designed homes.

Local architect Dan Garber spoke on Clark's living legacy, and Palo Alto Museum President & CEO Marguerite Gong Hancock shared the latest on the Museum's path to opening.

"Birge Clark designed extraordinary spaces meant to serve people and feel like home," said Hancock. "This benefit helps as a stepping stone for us do the same: complete vital waterproofing repairs, preserve the Museum's own Birge Clark landmark, and breathe new life into it — so we can open our doors once again and be a home for our community for generations to come."

Thank you to everyone who joined us, supported us, and made this possible. Want to be part of what's next? Follow the link-in-bio.

06/29/2026

Earlier this month, we were honored to host Palo Alto's own Joanna Ho — New York Times bestselling author — for a Summer Outdoor Adventure Storytime right here in the Museum courtyard.

Joanna read from her newly released picture book A Room With a View, a funny, heartfelt story about discovering that the best adventures (and the best views) are the ones shared with the people we love.

Families enjoyed hands-on, camping-inspired activities and heard the story behind the book straight from the author herself, exactly the kind of morning that reminds us why this community means so much.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, to our partners at Linden Tree Children's Books for making books available on-site, and a special thank you to Joanna for sharing her story, her heart, and her time with our community.

If you missed it, stay tuned — more programming is on the way.

Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know about future events: https://dashs.liveimpact.org/li/7821/formtemplate/44182/1/4582508

06/26/2026

Which company became the first tenant of Stanford Research Park in 1953?

The answer marks the beginning of a place that would help transform Palo Alto into one of the world’s most important centers of innovation.

Take the quiz, test your local knowledge, and discover the companies, inventions, and ideas that emerged from Stanford Research Park.

Earn points redeemable for Palo Alto Museum merchandise, local treats, and more.

👉 Start the Museum in Your Pocket story now.
https://paloalto.pullpath.works/start/path/71

06/12/2026

Custom-designed Palo Alto tote bags. Sent straight to your door.

That’s one of the rewards you can win through Museum in Your Pocket: Palo Alto Museum’s interactive way to explore local history, answer quick quizzes, and earn points along the way.

This time, take the quiz on the Arnautoff Frescoes and discover the story behind one of Palo Alto’s most striking public artworks.

👉 Take the Arnautoff Frescoes quiz today.
https://paloalto.pullpath.works/start/path/75

06/09/2026

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬-𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐇𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞⁣
Saturday, June 20, 2026 | 11:00 a.m.–12:00 noon⁣
Palo Alto Museum Colonnade (behind the Museum, facing Heritage Park)⁣
Free and open to all. Family-friendly fun for all ages.⁣

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summer-outdoor-adventure-storytime-with-bestselling-author-joanna-ho-tickets-1990900542115?aff=oddtdtcreator
⁣
Join Palo Alto resident and New York Times-bestselling author Joanna Ho for an outdoor adventure storytime. Enjoy camping-inspired hands-on activities and a reading from her newly released picture book, 𝘈 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘦𝘸.⁣
⁣
In this sweet and funny story, Oliver is convinced that outdoor adventures mean bazillion-mile, brain-melting car rides, bugs, bats, and sticky, icky food. But after hiking, playing hide-and-seek, and making s'mores, he discovers that some of life's best memories are made outdoors.⁣
⁣
Filled with humor, heart, and a celebration of family and nature, 𝘈 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘦𝘸 reminds readers that the best views are the ones we share with the people we love.⁣
⁣
Don't miss this opportunity to meet Palo Alto's own Joanna Ho, hear her read from 𝘈 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘦𝘸, learn the inspiration behind her newest book, and enjoy hands-on nature activities inspired by its outdoor adventures.⁣ Which question would you like to ask her?
⁣
Thanks to our partner Linden Tree Children's Books, books will be available for purchase. ⁣
⁣
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐇𝐨⁣
Joanna Ho is a New York Times–bestselling and award-winning author of books for young readers. Her honors include a Golden Kite Award, an Ezra Jack Keats Honor, and recognition as a finalist for the Kirkus Prize. A writer and educator with a passion for anti-bias, anti-racism, and equity work, she has served as an English teacher, dean, designer of an alternative-to-prison program, and high school vice principal. She lives in Palo Alto with her family.

06/05/2026

Which NBA player was once captain of the Palo Alto High School basketball team?

The answer is just one of many connections between Palo Alto and the world of professional sports. From basketball courts to baseball diamonds, local athletes have left their mark on the national and international stage.

Take the quiz, test your local knowledge, and earn points redeemable for Palo Alto Museum merch, local treats, and more.

👉 Start the Museum in Your Pocket story now. https://paloalto.pullpath.works/start/path/78

05/22/2026

Birge Clark helped shape the look of Palo Alto with red-tile roofs, arched arcades, and an architectural style that still defines parts of the city today.

But how much do you know about the design choices that helped shape Palo Alto’s distinctive character?

Take the quiz, test your local knowledge, and earn points redeemable for Palo Alto Museum merch, local treats, and more.

👉 Start the Museum in Your Pocket story now:
https://paloalto.pullpath.works/start/path/73

05/19/2026

Families showed up to Magical Bridge Playground for interactive storytelling about Palo Alto's role in the invention of film with President and CEO Marguerite Gong Hancock. Marguerite shared the story of how Leland Stanford, photographer Eadward Muybridge, and the horse Sallie Gardner sparked motion pictures. This sneak peek of our inaugural exhibition and film screening "From Hooves to Hollywood: Palo Alto's Role in Movie Breakthroughs and Blockbusters." A special thank-you to our partner and friends Magical Bridge for a magical time.

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300 Homer Avenue
Palo Alto, CA

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https://paloaltomuseum.org/, https://paloaltomuseum.org/palo-alto-2044/

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