The History Center got its start in 1956 when a group of concerned citizens formed the non-profit Escondido Historical Society. After twenty years of collecting and preserving photographs, artifacts and documents, we opened a museum called Heritage Walk in 1976. During our 50th anniversary year, 2006, we changed the name of our organization and museum to the Escondido History Center.

 

- Operate a museum in Grape Day Park, including offering group and school tours

- Offer blacksmithing and wheelwright classes through Escondido Adult School

- Organize events and activities, including the historic Grape Day Festival and Parade

- Provide free walking tours of historic Escondido

- Give presentations on local history to community groups and classes

- Provide access to our photographic collection and other research materials including city directories, yearbooks and obituaries

- Activiely collect photographs, artifacts and paper ephemera pertaining to Escondido's past and present

- Operate a museum store that carries books, gift items and Escondido sourveniers

- Assist the city's planning department with historic preservation issues

- Act as the steward of Grape Day Park and actively work toward its complete revitalization, including organizing Saturdays in the Park, free weekly arts and culture programming in the park

 

Some of our archival materials are on long term loan at the Pioneer Room of the public library.

 

The History Center is a private non-profit 501(c) 3 organization. We are funded by a variety of sources including individual and corporate memberships, donations, grants, our museum store and special events. We have a 2 member staff, 15 member Board of Directors and over 70 volunteers.

 

Members are our lifeblood, especially since city funding was eliminated as of July 2011. Annual membership dues provide significant support for the History Center. Members receive our newsletter, The Grapevine, which features a cover story about an Escondido person, place or event, advanced notice of events, occassional member only events, a 10% discount in our museum store, plus the knowledge that you are helping preserve local history. As a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, membership and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

 

The Escondido History Center Endowment Foundation was formed to eventually provide significant support for the History Center. All bequests and memorial gifts automatically become part of our endowment. The Endowment Foundation also organizes fundraisers, including the Escondido Spring Garden Tour.