San José, CA – February 12, 2013
On Sunday, February 24, from 11 AM to 3 PM --- Archaeology Day at the Peralta Adobe at San Pedro Square Market will offer children an opportunity to be junior archaeologists.
Stanford Archaeology Center students will be at the Peralta Adobe historic site conducting a mock excavation, screening, artifact identification and artifact reconstruction.
This free family educational program will allow individuals to collect stickers for each activity to place in Archaeology Passports and become ‘certified’ as a Junior Archaeologist. Children will also have the opportunity to learn more about the Mission and Rancho historic periods of California history with various hands-on activities.
The oldest home in San Jose, the Peralta Adobe, serves as a perfect archaeological location. It is the centerpiece for San Pedro Square Market at 175 West Saint John Street in downtown San Jose. It is just across the street from the Fallon House, a mid-19th century Victorian home.
The public archaeology activities are free. While at the Peralta Adobe, visitors can also take tours of the Peralta Adobe and the Fallon House, which are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (62 and older) and students with a valid school identification card; and $5 for children who are accompanied by an adult. As usual, members of History San José receive free admission.
Adult tours, and tours for children ages seven and older, will be held through the Peralta Adobe and the Fallon House, at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Hands-on tours of the Peralta Adobe, especially designed for children ages 4 through 9 accompanied by an adult, will be at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. These historic buildings are not wheel-chair accessible.
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The Fallon House was built in 1855 by one of San José’s earliest mayors. The Victorian mansion showcases 15 fully-furnished rooms typical of the Victorian period. Thomas Fallon was a frontiersman in the John C. Fremont expedition, and Carmel Fallon was the daughter of one of the most prominent Mexican landowners in California.
The Peralta Adobe is San José’s oldest address. Built in 1797, the Peralta Adobe is the last remaining structure from El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe. See the Adobe’s horno, an outside working oven or venture inside the home and see two rooms furnished as they might have been when they were occupied by the Gonzales and Peralta families. It is now surrounded by the new San Pedro Square Market.
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About History San José:
History San José is a non-profit organization that collects, preserves and celebrates the stories of diversity and innovation in San José and the Santa Clara Valley. HSJ manages one of the largest and most comprehensive regional history collections in the State of California, from 1784 Spanish governmental records to twenty-first century Silicon Valley technology.
History San José 1650 Senter Road San José, CA 95112 408.287.2290
Facebook: /historysanjose
Twitter: @historysanjose
