Our Mission

We bring together all members of the community to preserve, celebrate, and share the history of the San Mateo Coastside.

About the History Association

We are volunteers dedicated to bringing together all members of the community to preserve and share the history of the San Mateo Coastside. We view that history as the lives and works of all the cultures and races that made the Coastside what it is today, from the times of the earliest Ohlone villages, to the Mexican period, on through the early American period, and up to modern times.

We welcome all as members, visitors, and researchers, regardless of race, culture, gender, or age.

In our education role, we describe the contributions and trials of all peoples that have resided, worked in and visited the area from Montara to Año Nuevo. Their problems, including racism, discrimination, and violence are part of our history, and must not be forgotten or hidden. Only by remembering and explaining history fully can we avoid repeating past offenses and improve our lives.

Our history is that of the land, the sea, and the peoples at their meeting  that defines us as the Coastside. That meeting shapes our lives, the lives of our predecessors, their inventions, art, farms, harbors, and buildings. We preserve their artifacts and stories, and present them to make the past come alive. In presenting that past, we discuss painful realities, in part to avoid them in the future.

The Half Moon Bay History Association is a charitable IRS 501(c)3 education non-profit. Our charitable tax ID (EIN) is 20-8712053. Copies of our tax returns with financial summaries are available on ProPublica.

It is our policy to maintain your privacy.  Please visit our Privacy Policy page for further information.

What we do

  • Hold free speaker events on local history topics (with videos of past programs)
  • Provide an education program to every school in the area.
  • Seek out and interview elders for oral history program to preserve the stories of all the Coastside
  • Offer Coastside history history videos to students, teachers and history buffs.
  • Act as a resource for anyone with questions about the history of this unique region.
  • In June, 2018, after  several years effort finding a location, and negotiating a lease with the City of Half Moon Bay, we opened a  small museum in the old 1919 jail at 505 Johnston.
  • Opened a new and larger Coastside History Museum has been in the old barn/garage behind the jail. Our grand opening  was on June 24, 2023.on the 5th anniversary of the jail museum.
  • We seek out and manage Volunteers, members and donations for our programs and projects. New vjolunteers and docents are always welcome! We have no paid staff, and operate completely with volunteers and we are happy to see new faces.

Contact Us

Docent & Volunteer opportunities: Volunteer4History@gmail.com
Programs & Presentations: hmbhaprograms@gmail.com
Research and other history questions about the Coastside: research@halfmoonbayhistory.org
Collections & Donations: hmbhacollections@gmail.com
Website & general questions: info@halfmoonbayhistory.org

Phone: (650) 479-1935 (Voicemail)

Mailing address:

Half Moon Bay History Association
PO Box 248
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019-0248

Coastside History Museum and Historic Jail

505 Johnston St
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019