The Society preserves, enjoys and educates about Pacifica's past. In addition to historical research, we host regular events about local history, and run the Pacifica Coastside Museum. We hope you will visit us!
Pacifica has a fascinating history. It was the site of an Ohlone village over a thousand years ago. It was the site where Europeans first saw the San Francisco Bay. It has been part of Spain, Mexico and the United States. During Prohibition, Pacifica was the home of rolicking speakeasies. Pacifica's incredible view of the Pacific Ocean brought military lookouts missle silos during the Cold War. Today Pacifica attracts visitors from around the world, drawn to our natural beauty, amazing hiking trails, legendary surfing, a castle, and the world's most beautiful Taco Bell (seriously!).
Current exhibits include a working model of the Ocean Shore Railroad, the Portola Expedition, Pacifica in WWII, the Ohlone People, and more!
Currently, the Coastside Museum is open on Thursdays and Saturdays, from 1 pm to 4 pm. Docents will be on hand to answer questions and to interpret the exhibits.
A training course for new or prospective docents will start on Saturday, February 24th. The course meets on four Saturday mornings from 10am to noon, February 24, March 2, 9, and 16. The first and last sessions are held at the museum, the middle two sessions will be online.
If you are interested in attending, please send your name and contact information to info@pacificahistory.org with subject line "Docent Training".
Author Rosanna Xia, a Los Angeles Times reporter, has written a book about how the California coastline has been and will be affected by climate change. A whole chapter in her book, "California Against the Sea: Visions for Our Vanishing Coastline", is devoted to the city of Pacifica ("A Town on the Edge") and how the city is struggling with rising sea levels. She will be giving a talk at the Pedro Point Firehouse on March 3rd at 1 p.m. She will be joined by Gary Griggs, a professor of Earth Sciences at UC Santa Cruz, who will also talk about the challenges facing coastal communities, especially Pacifica. Reserved seating. SOLD OUT
There are plenty of bargains to be had in one of the city's largest rummage sales. This month, lots of tools - including the well loved Craftsman tools. Plus the usual house hold goods, clothing, books, and jewelry. 9 am to 4 pm each day.
The Pacifica Historical Society will hold an e-waste collection event on Saturday, March 16, 2024, 10am - 2pm at the Sea Bowl Parking Lot. Please save your no-longer-used televisions, computers, monitors, laptops, printers, phones, stereos, cell phones, and wire/cable for donations/recycle.
Not acceptable are toys, alkaline batteries, bulbs, hair dryers, household items, microwave ovens, fans/heaters, or other appliances. This e-waste collection will help support the restoration of the Ocean Shore Railroad car #1409 at the Pacifica Historical Society. Thank you for your support!
Take the self-guided History Walk through Sharp Park, formerly known as Salada Beach. For more information, click on the button below.
Learn about Pacifica's places, people and history through the Historical Society's videos on YouTube! For more information, click on the button below.
We reveal the history of Pacifica before and after incorporation, from the first known natives to the present day - and more. Many of the materials here are recovered from our old Wiki site. For more information, click on the button below.