Historical Markers in
San Mateo County, California

100th Anniversary of the Crystal Springs Dam A Bright Beacon A Monument to Water A. C. Argo Al Terremere Alhambra Theater Año Nuevo Island Anza Expedition Camp Apple Jack's Inn Bank of SSF Broderick – Terry Duel Burlingame Railroad Station Burlingame Train Station California Square California Square Captain Don Gaspar de Portolà Carrington Hall Casa de Tableta Central Park and The Kohl Pumphouse Central Park Veterans Memorial Central Park Veterans Memorial Central Park Veterans Memorial - Screaming Eagles Grove Central Park Veterans Memorial – Japanese American Combat Team Central Park Veterans Memorial – World War I Charles Gust 1888-1969 City Hall City of San Carlos Veterans Memorial Colma City Hall Colma Historical Museum Cuneo Farm and Produce Market Dickerman-Steele House Diller's Island Diller-Chamberlain Gen. Store/American Hotel-American House/Sequoia Hotel/Bank of San Mateo County Discovery of San Francisco Bay Duarte's Tavern Early People of the Creek Eikerenkotter House El Palo Alto Embarcadero Turning Basin Site Enterprise Journal Eugene A. Doran Memorial Bridge Eureka Corner Filoli Fire Station No. 1 First Business Structure First Camp After Discovery of San Francisco Bay First Concrete Bridge Erected in San Mateo Co First Congregational Church of Pescadero First Saw Mill First Shipboard Landing Folger Stable c.1905 Former Site of Sequoia High School Fox Theater Gaspar de Portolá Expedition Campsite General Hospital Granada's Burnham Plan Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Grand Avenue Library Hallidie Tramway Hickey Home Higurashi-en Historic Camp Site History of San Mateo’s Bridges Hotel El Granada If it's Summer, Bring a Sweater In Memorial to the Commercial Fisherman Lost at Sea In Memoriam George Edgar Filkins In Memoriam The Aircraft "Resolution" Inverson Cabin Site Joe Cavalli – Historical Site Joseph Debenedetti Building Kohl Mansion Lathrop House Lathrop-Connor-Mansfield House Leipsic Junction Len Turner Martin Building McGovern Home Menlo Park Railroad Station Methodist Episcopal Church of Pescadero Methodist Episcopal Church of Pescadero Miramar Beach Restaurant Mission Hospice Molloy’s Springs Mori's Point Inn Morse’s Corners Mount Olivet Cemetery Office and Streetcar Line New Sequoia/Fox Theatre Ocean Shore R.R. and Granada Old Colma Railroad Station Old Colma Railroad Station "Old" San Mateo County Courthouse Old San Mateo County Courthouse Our Lady of the Wayside Pacific City Pan American Airways "Philippine Clipper" Martin (M-130) NC-14715 Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park Pigeon Point Lighthouse Plymire-Schwarz House Portola Camp Portola Journey's End Portola Primary School Railroad Semaphore Signal Ralston Hall Redwood City Arch Redwood City War Memorial Redwood City Woman’s Club S.M. Mezes San Carlos Depot San Carlos Station San Francisquito Creek Watershed San Gregorio House San Mateo’s First Residents Sanchez Adobe Savage Seas Seabiscuit Sequoia Union High School Sequoia Veterans Memorial Sign Hill Solari Family Windmill Solari Windmill Soledad O. de Arguello South San Francisco General Hospital St. Denis Church and Cemetery St. Paul's United Methodist Church State Theater/State Room Steele Brothers' Dairy Ranches Steele Ranch Tanforan Assembly Center Commemorative Garden Tanforan Racetrack Japanese Assembly Center Thaddeus Kerns The Chinese Walls "The Determination of One Man" The Enduring Aramai The Ground Beneath Your Feet The James Johnston House The Last Stagecoach Hold-Up In San Mateo County The Little Brown Church The Moss Beach Distillery The Pioneer Store The San Andreas Fault The Tradition of Sequoia’s Class Plaques Town of Searsville Town of West Union U.S. Post Office Union Cemetery United States Senator David C. Broderick and Judge David S. Terry Waterworks and the Pump House Where Daly City Started Women's Club Woodside Store Zaballa House
The San Francisco cable car system is the world's last manually operated cable car system. The system was built in 1873 and is a National Historic Landmark. The cable cars are a popular tourist attraction and are featured in many movies and TV shows.
California random facts
San Mateo County, located in Northern California, has a rich history dating back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by various indigenous tribes, including the Ohlone people, who lived off the land and coastline. European exploration began in the late 18th century, with Spanish explorers and missionaries venturing into the region.

In the early 19th century, the Mexican government granted large land grants, known as ranchos, to influential individuals. Rancho San Mateo was one of these grants, encompassing much of what is now San Mateo County. The California Gold Rush in the mid-1800s brought an influx of settlers to the region, leading to the development of towns and a growing economy.

The completion of the Central Pacific Railroad in the late 19th century boosted the county's growth, providing easier access for trade and transportation. With the railroad's arrival, cities like Redwood City and San Mateo saw rapid development and urbanization, attracting more people to the area.

In the 20th century, San Mateo County experienced further growth with the rise of technology and industry. Companies like Oracle and Electronic Arts chose to establish their headquarters within the county, contributing to the region's reputation as a tech hub. Today, San Mateo County remains a vibrant and diverse community with a strong economy, beautiful coastline, and a blend of rural and urban areas.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of San Mateo County, California.

  • 1856 - San Mateo County is established as one of the original 27 counties of California.
  • 1860s - The county experiences rapid growth with the development of railroads and the expansion of the local economy.
  • 1892 - The Crystal Springs Dam is completed, providing a reliable water source for the growing population.
  • 1906 - The Great San Francisco Earthquake causes significant damage in San Mateo County.
  • 1931 - The county's first Bay Bridge, connecting San Mateo and Hayward, is opened.
  • 1942 - During World War II, the county becomes a center of defense and military activity.
  • 1967 - The iconic Cow Palace is constructed in Daly City.
  • 1974 - The San Mateo-Hayward Bridge, a major transportation link, is completed.
  • 1990s - The county experiences further economic growth and technological advancements.
  • 2002 - The completion of the Devil's Slide Tunnel provides a safer and more reliable transportation route along the coast.