Marking History
News & Notes
President’ s Message
By Pamela Baird MVHA President
This newsletter is published four times a year by the MOUNTAIN VIEW HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION P. O. Box 252, Mountain View, CA 94042 www. mountainviewhistorical. org
MVHA Board of Directors President: Pamela Baird Vice-President: Robert Cox Secretary: Jamil Shaikh Treasurer: Anthea Chung
Past President: Nicholas Perry Historical Data: David Salinero Membership: Vacant Newsletter: Melanie Kaye
Director-at-Large: Carol Donahue Director-at-Large: IdaRose Sylvester Director-at-Large: Melanie Kaye
Newsletter Design & Layout by Melanie Kaye and Pamela Baird
MVHA Board of Directors Email: info @ mountainviewhistorical. org ✵
Marking History
At the recent community meeting about planning for the Downtown Precise https:// collaborate. mountainview. gov / Pamela Baird downtown-precise-plan, I was pleased to hear participants express a desire to know more about the history of downtown Mountain View. Suggestions were made about creating historical markers, placing QR codes on buildings which would detail the history of a specific building or site and other suggestions, including the formation of a historical advisory committee.
As much as I wanted to jump up to remind everyone that the MVHA conducts monthly walking tours, I contained my enthusiasm and stayed seated. It was great to hear the comments about how the downtown area can be enhanced and improved.
A survey is available online if you want to provide input— https:// www. surveymonkey. com / r / B6HJH72.
In my travels I am curious to learn how other communities detail and mark areas and buildings of significant importance. A variety of panel designs are used to illustrate history. The city of Santa Rosa displays a panel discussing the history of the canning industry next to the railroad tracks used to ship the completed products.
Mountain View could place something similar in several locations of former canning factories near the downtown railroad tracks.
The town of Barth, Germany, where my great grandparents lived, has a rich and long history dating to the 1500s. The town has several markers detailing the history, which include a map of the area Markers can be created which include a QR code to provide more information than can be contained on a small panel. This is a great way to provide a comprehensive story of history. MVHA is interested in developing more markers, either through a collaboration with the city or private entities.
We have so much history to share with the community and visitors. Can you help us with this goal? If interested— please contact us at— info @ mountainviewhistorical. org.
Upcoming Walking Tours of Downtown Mountain View October 26 and November 23, 2025.
http:// mvhistory. eventbrite. com /
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