Doors Open 2023
Planning your trip in/to Fremont
What else is there to do while you are here in Fremont? Where can you eat? Find a restroom? What other interesting sights are there to see? We've recommended places to eat and visit while visiting the districts of Mission San Jose and Niles.
See the Doors Open official listing for current times and dates for the seven sites.
When you arrive at Shinn Historical Park & Arboretum, please check in at the museum behind the Big House. Walk past the Japanese Garden, the bathrooms in the tankhouse and turn left into the door to your left. If you don't have your wristband yet, we can give you a wristband if you show your ticket or email confirmation.
Parking is free and additional parking is available in the neighborhood.
This year for Doors Open at Shinn Park, we have two special exhibits
" Baby Observations and a Chinese bunkhouse: what they tell us about life on the Shinn Ranch"
Babies and Bunkhouses and Houses and Gardens
The Babies: Dr. Milicent Shinn’s ground-breaking child development studies were carried out at the Shinn ranch. Her observations of her niece were the basis of her PhD dissertation (1898) and later book, The Biography of a Baby (1900).
Milicent's study notebooks recording her observations of her nephew Joseph Jr. were recently discovered in the attic. In addition to observations about Joe Jr.’s language development and motor milestones, Dr. Shinn also recorded glimpses of family life, like Joe Jr’s love of Grandma Lucy and their Chinese cook, Fong Gan (perhaps because they both supplied him with sweet treats). We have only started transcribing her notes and have selected some that described the gardens 100 years ago, the trees, grandma Lucy & Joseph Jr., and Fong Gan and Joseph Jr.
Bunkhouses: The Shinn family contracted Chinese labor to manage many of the jobs of the ranch: planting, harvesting, grafting, pruning, ditch digging, etc. A "China Camp" was located along Alameda Creek and near the original Shinn home. Efforts are underway to raise money to restore the remaining fragile 100-year-old bunkhouse from the Shinn ranch China Camp. The building will be used to highlight the historic role of the Chinese immigrants at the Shinn ranch and in our community. This history is recorded in the letters, ledgers, and photos of the Shinn House Museum and other locations. The building will be included in the nomination of the Shinn Ranch to the National Register.
The Shinn House Museum: In 2003 the old utilitarian shed at the back of the house was converted into an archive and museum for the Shinn Family's history. It will be open 1-4 pm. Docents will be on hand to introduce the two new exhibits and to help you navigate the history of the Shinn family. The Chinese Bunkhouse Preservation group will be on hand with a portion of the “Chinese Roots: Sketches of Life in the Washington Township” exhibit and will guide people to the bunkhouse in the barnyard.
Other Tours
The "Big House" 1876 Victoran: The two-story Victorian Shinn House will be open with the regular docent led tours. The tours are 1-4 pm first come first served, for a donation $4 adult $2 child. If you have a ticket or wristband for Doors Open the donation will be waived. Since it is first come first served, let the house docent know if you have travelled a long way to visit and can't come back on a regular house tour day. September 17th is the next date. The house is open first Wednesday and third Sunday throughout the year with the exception of holidays.
The Online tour will tell you about the other buildings - the cottage, tankhouse, Bungalow, barnyard buildings.
Gardens: The gardens surrounding the Big House were laid out after the Big House was built. Some of the trees were planted during the 1870s and 1880s. Trees from Japan, Australia, Chile, and the East Coast are present here.
Inside the original Circle garden is a modern Japanese Garden 1983-1985 designed by Mai Kitazawa Arbegast and built by the community. The Friends of Heirloom Flowers Garden Club will be available to give tours of the gardens.
The Online tour of the 4 acres of the park - buildings and gardens - was created for Doors Open 2022 and has been improved with additional historic photos.