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Published on 06/16/1999 All articles from this issue

Groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for History House education center

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Town Crier Staff Report

After more than six years of planning and fundraising, Los Altos History House museum officials have set a Thursday groundbreaking ceremony for an elaborate, three-level education center on museum grounds behind the Los Altos library.

The 8,200-square-foot center will feature two exhibit areas, a gift shop, a meeting room, research and office space, and a large storage area for archives.

The $1.65 million project has benefited from a strong grass-roots fundraising campaign.

"We're most of the way there," said Bob Grimm regarding funding for the center. The former Los Altos mayor and his wife, Marion, have led efforts to build the facility.

Grimm said he expects actual construction to begin next month.

Liz Nyberg, History House Association president, said the facility, funded by private and matching grants, will be gifted to the city, but will be run by the History House.

In addition to providing a local historical database and research materials for residents, the new center also frees up the History House Museum itself, which has been suffering from a lack of space to accommodate historic materials.

"The (existing) museum's the most important artifact," said Madelyn Crawford, History House museum director, referring to the home built in 1905. "We will not have the History House become a storage area. That's not its purpose."

The groundbreaking at the museum culminates efforts going back to 1993, when the Los Altos Historical Commission agreed to pursue the project.

Although construction plans are going ahead, History House officials said funding is still being sought for the education center.

To contribute, checks may be written out to the History House Association and sent to Dave Backs, 546 Orange Ave., Los Altos 94022.

The groundbreaking ceremony, scheduled for 4:30 p.m., will feature refreshments, music by Dave Lambourne and tours of the History House Museum (52 S. San Antonio Road). For more information, call Crawford at 941-0950, ext. 126.