Long before San Jose was a city, the Ohlone people thrived here — stewards of the land, guardians of its rivers, hills, and oak groves. Their deep connection to this place shaped the rhythms of nature and community for thousands of years. The Ohlone lived…

Long before Silicon Valley and suburbs, San Jose made history as the first civilian settlement in Alta California. Founded on November 29, 1777, as El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe, it was established by Spanish settlers under the direction of the Spanish crown —…

When California became a state in 1850, it needed a capital — and the honor went to none other than San Jose. Chosen for its central location and growing prominence, San Jose became California’s first state capital, hosting the inaugural state legislature in a modest…

In 1853, a wooden crate buzzed with history—California’s first honeybees had arrived… but barely. Shipped from New York all the way around Cape Horn (yes, the bottom of South America), these East Coast bees weren’t expected to survive the brutal ocean voyage. And honestly? Most…