Opening September 14, 2024, the San Mateo County History Museum is proud to announce the launch of its newest permanent exhibit, Peninsula Innovators Changing the World.

REDWOOD CITY, CA – Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, San Mateo County has long been a hub of groundbreaking innovation. But who are the masterminds behind these transformative advancements? On September 14, 2024, the San Mateo County History Museum will unveil its latest exhibit, Peninsula Innovators Changing the World, celebrating the trailblazers who have lived, worked, or studied in San Mateo County and left an indelible mark across various fields.

This compelling exhibit will honor innovators in areas including Agriculture, Arts & Entertainment, Biotech & Medical, Development, Electronics, Finance, Industrial Manufacturing, Information Technology, and Services. It will feature a treasure trove of artifacts from the museum’s collection, including the first-ever Brussels sprout harvester from Half Moon Bay, Cow Palace’s “Wall of Stars” signed by Elvis Presley, and Raychem’s inaugural Electron Beam Generator Electron Tube.

Visitors will also marvel at a model of Stanley Hiller Jr.'s XH-44 Hiller-copter, courtesy of the Hiller Aviation Museum, as well as an educational robot created by Nolan Bushnell and a klystron developed by the Varian brothers, on loan from History San Jose. Enhancing the experience, the exhibit will boast a Digital Timeline, offering an interactive exploration of Peninsula innovators, regularly updated to highlight new changemakers.

Among the luminaries celebrated in the exhibit is J. Burgess Jamieson, for whom the gallery will be named. A pioneering figure in the venture capital industry, Jamieson has been heralded as one of the ten founding fathers of Silicon Valley’s venture capital infrastructure. His entrepreneurial vision laid the groundwork for an industry now known worldwide as venture capital. Jamieson and his family are generous, long-standing supporters of the museum.

The project's first major contributor was Franklin (Pitch) Johnson, a trailblazing venture capitalist who co-founded Draper & Johnson Investment Company and later established Asset Management Company, making over 250 venture investments. Johnson's influence extended to academia, where he taught venture capital at Stanford University, and to Eastern Europe. His family's roots are deeply entwined with California's history, with many family artifacts now part of the museum's collection.

The exhibit will also feature the Paul Cook Theater, named after the innovative Raychem founder, who was awarded the National Medal of Technology. He established Raychem Corporation and pioneered the use of radiation in commercial products. His groundbreaking work at the Radiation Chemistry Laboratory, under the auspices of the Atomic Energy Commission, led to the development of new materials for industrial applications, making Raychem the first company to utilize high-energy electron accelerators in a production setting.

Furthermore, the exhibit pays homage to the Cow Palace, a cornerstone of Bay Area innovation for over 83 years. This iconic venue has hosted a myriad of historical events, from the Grand National Rodeo to concerts by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Elvis Presley, as well as significant political conventions, including being the site where John F. Kennedy delivered his renowned Peace Corps speech.

The San Mateo County History Museum invites you to join us in celebrating the extraordinary achievements of these innovators. Together, we are building a legacy that will inspire and educate future generations.

The San Mateo County History Museum is located at 2200 Broadway within the 114-year-old “Old Courthouse” in Redwood City. The Museum is open every day except Monday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For more information contact www.historysmc.org or 650-299-0104.