About this landmark

The county's fourth courthouse, now public

The San Mateo County History Museum is located at 2200 Broadway in downtown Redwood City. The building served as the county courthouse until its conversion to a museum in 1998. Designed by architect Glenn Allen in Roman and Renaissance revival styles, the courthouse opened on July 4, 1910. The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 13, 1977, recognizing its architectural and historical significance. The building occupies approximately 1.4 acres of property.

Four courthouses through the centuries

The Broadway site has been home to multiple county courthouses. The first courthouse, built in 1858, was damaged in an 1868 earthquake. A second courthouse, known as the 'Lady Justice' Courthouse, was constructed in 1882. A third courthouse was completed shortly before the 1906 earthquake; only its dome survived that disaster. Each successive structure was built to replace its damaged predecessor, reflecting the city's growth and the need for more substantial civic facilities.

The present building represents the fourth courthouse on the site. A major restoration spanning 1998 to 2006 cost more than $20 million and expanded the building from 6,000 to 40,000 square feet. The project included demolition of the Fiscal Building annex in 2005 and reconstruction of the original front facade afterward. The San Mateo County Historical Association, founded in 1935, first established a museum in 1963 at the College of San Mateo. The association relocated its museum operations to this Broadway location, which opened to the public on February 6, 1999.

Visiting the museum

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with last admission at 3:45 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors and students, and free for children five and under. The building features a stained-glass dome among the largest on the West Coast. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and maintains a substantial regional collection.

The museum draws over 53,000 visitors annually from the surrounding region. Visitors can explore exhibits on San Mateo County's history within the restored courthouse architecture. The building's architectural restoration carefully preserved original historic details while adapting the space for modern public use. The institution maintains phone contact at 650.299.0104 and email at [email protected] for inquiries about current exhibitions, visiting hours, or special events throughout the year.

Insurance connection: Earthquake insurance

This building's seismic history reflects earthquake risks for California properties. Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake shake damage. California law requires your insurer to offer earthquake coverage at least every other year. The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) provides most residential earthquake coverage in the state through your home insurer. CEA policies offer deductibles from 5% to 25%, though homes over $1 million or built before 1980 without retrofitting require 15% minimums. Personal-property coverage starts at $5,000 and can increase to $25,000. Learn about earthquake insurance. Eligibility and limits depend on your policy. The issued policy controls.

Visit the museum's website

Primary sources: official museum page, Wikipedia article, and the Historic Preservation listing.