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Brought to you by the Museum Alliance of Fremont, Union City, and Newark - MA FUN
Our History
Our History
Today's cities of Fremont, Union City, and Newark were once the historic towns of the Washington Township - Mission San Jose, Centerville/Hardscrabble, Newark, Alviso, Drawbridge, Alvarado, Vallejo's Mill, Niles, Warm Springs, Harrisburg, Washington Corners/Irvington, and Decoto. From almost everywhere you can see Mission Peak.
Nowhere else can you find remains of sabertooth cats and mammoths, ancient Ohlone village sites, a Spanish mission, an adobe from the Rancho era, a portion of the original Transcontinental Railroad with weekend excursions, the remains of one of the earliest and largest nurseries West of the Rockies, two historic homes from the 1800s, a rustic bunkhouse used by Chinese workers, a silent film museum, and so much more.
Many of our history museums have items in California Revealed.
For 2025, we are celebrating the 110th anniversary of the PPIE. See who has an exhibit or some feature for the 110th.
Washington Township Museum of Local History (WTMOLH) in the Mission San Jose District
on California Revealed
Washington Township Museum of Local History (WTMOLH) in the Mission San Jose District
on California Revealed
Past Events
Past Events
September 21st in Fremont!
It was nice meeting you!
September 21st in Fremont!
It was nice meeting you!
Doors Open California is the largest statewide celebration of historic places. Enthusiasts of historic architecture, design, and cultural heritage will have access to over 75 sites across the state on the weekends during the month of September 2025. For a $20 ticket you can visit 75 sites across California.
This year, three sites in Fremont have coordinated so you may enjoy a Doors Open day in our city on Sunday, September 21st. All three sites are in the historic boundaries of Niles. Doors Open ticket holders may be given priority over regular visitors at some sites.
Maximize your time here and see Niles.org for antiquing and dining.
Doors Open schedule for Niles/Fremont
Doors Open schedule for Niles/Fremont
10:00-noon Shinn Park. For Doors Open ticket holders only, you can go on a free Shinn House architectural tour; the Shinn House Museum may be open; and the Chinese Bunkhouse team will be in the barnyard to talk about the preservation project.
1-4:00 Shinn Park. Regular tours of the house resume. Anyone may visit. First come first served. There is a nominal donation for the Shinn House tours. $6 adult and $3 children. Tours are 1-4 (last tour Starts at 3:00). An online tour of the grounds is always available. The 4-acre grounds are great for picnicking and wandering. Many historic trees were planted in the 1870s-1880s.
11-3:00 California Nursery Historical Park - The 1907 Nursery office contains the Museum and archives of this 1884 nursery. The museum/archives will be open. There are great picnicking places in the gardens around the Museum. Bring your lunch from Niles. Walking tours of the 20 acre park. Interpretive signage has been recently installed in the 20 acre park. If you miss a guided tour, you can make your own tour.
3:00-5:30 Niles Film Museum and walking tour: Film Detective: Charlie Chaplin’s Bay Area Footsteps. At 3:00 pm we will screen his most famous films made in Niles so long ago – they are still sure to bring a chuckle or guffaw. At 4:00 pm, we will share a video on Charlie Chaplin’s Bay Area Footsteps created by silent films locations expert John Bengtson and then go on a walk around the neighborhood pointing out several locations as featured in these famous film shorts.
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