Lafayette Historical Society

Lafayette, California

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Speaker Series: “The Bay Miwok Saklan in Lafayette”

September 22, 2018 Leave a Comment

James M. “Doc” Hales will tell use how the Bay Miwok Saklan Native Americans made use of edible, medicinal, ceremonial, and plentiful plants and wildlife in their Lafayette and Walnut Creek villages. James will bring his mini museum of artifacts to his presentation Doc Hale is a renowned wildlife biologist in the East Bay and […]

Filed Under: 2018, Events

Speaker Series: “Tales About Trails”

August 2, 2018 Leave a Comment

Stu Swiedler will share “Fact versus Fiction” on the creation of the Lafayette-Moraga & Iron Horse Trails. We’ve enjoyed these trails for many years. Find out how they’ve come to be. Sunday, August 12, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in the Lafayette Library & Learning Center Arts & Science Discovery Center located on the mezzanine floor. […]

Filed Under: 2018, Events

Speaker Series: “The Story of Marquis de La Fayette”

April 28, 2018 3 Comments

Just who was the Marquis de La Fayette? Find out on Sunday, May 6, 2018 – 1:30 p.m. Lafayette Library & Learning Center – Community Hall Please join us for an informative program about the man whom after our city is named and who played such an important role in the establishment of our nation. […]

Filed Under: 2018, Events

Speaker Series: “Getting to School in Lafayette in the 20th Century”

January 4, 2018 Leave a Comment

   Make your plans to join us for another of Stu Swiedler’s informative talks! Sunday, January 21, 2018 – 2:00 p.m. Lafayette Library & Learning Center – Arts & Science Room If you think about it, not long ago all of the school kinds in Lafayette could ride horses to school. They drove tractors and […]

Filed Under: 2018

Speaker Series: Lafayette’s History Through Modern Media

September 19, 2017 1 Comment

Please join us on October 15 @ 2:00 p.m. for this most interesting look back at the history of our towns! Even if you don’t know Mark Harrigan’s name from Facebook pages: “You know you’re from Lafayette CA when” and “You know you’re from Lafayette CA when” and “680/24 Corridor History”, you will be amazed […]

Filed Under: 2017, Events

Speaker Series: A Conversation with a Well Known Author

May 27, 2017 1 Comment

Author and historian Richard Schwartz will deliver  an illustrated talk about the fascinating life story of  Jewish immigrant actor M.B. Curtis.   Date . . . . .Sunday July 16, 2017 Time . . . . 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Place . . . . Lafayette Library & Learning Center – Community Hall Donation Requested $10.00 LHS […]

Filed Under: 2017, Events

Speaker Series: The History of Lafayette Libraries

April 18, 2017 Leave a Comment

The earliest records of a library in Lafayette are dated in receipts held by Benjamin Shreve in the 1870’s. So we know a Library in our city was always important. In 1923, the Lafayette Improvement Association moved the 2nd schoolhouse from it’s location on Moraga Road to Mt. Diablo Blvd. where it became the Post […]

Filed Under: 2017, Events

Lafayette, CA Cemetery Tour (7-24-2016)

August 4, 2016 Leave a Comment

For those who couldn’t make it out to the recent tour of the cemetery, here is a video of it.

Filed Under: 2016, Events Tagged With: Cemetery, Tour

Upcoming Two-Part Speaker Series: The History and Tour of the Lafayette Cemetery

June 29, 2016 Leave a Comment

Listen to stories of pioneers resting in our Cemetery and then take a tour! The Lafayette Cemetery is the final resting place for Benjamin Shreve, the man who named our city, and Jennie Bickerstaff Rosenberg, Lafayette’s beloved pioneer school teacher. History comes alive at the cemetery when visiting the plots of a Civil War veteran, […]

Filed Under: 2016, Events

Upcoming Speaker Series: Ships, Bombs and Steel

April 14, 2016 Leave a Comment

Stuart Swiedler will be speaking for LHS again! Board a plane or ride the rails to experience the industrial transformation of the north coast of Contra Costa County. We’ll witness the scheme to produce warships, the struggle of a community to fend off the import of bombs and other nuclear weapons, learn the new names […]

Filed Under: 2016, Events

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Location and Hours

History Room
open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Lafayette Library
& Learning Center,
enter on Golden Gate Way
925-385-2297


Mailing Address: PO Box 133 Lafayette, CA 94549

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Your Memories Tell The Story of Lafayette

Memories of living and working in Lafayette are precious. Let us help you share those memories with others who value the town’s history. Call the Lafayette Historical Society’s Oral History line to set up a brief oral history phone interview with one of our friendly volunteers. Together, we can preserve the vibrant narrative of our town for generations to come.


Call 925-297-5397

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Building the Caldecott Tunnel

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Recent Posts

  • Oral History: Marty Brinckerhoff — August, 2024
  • Oral History: Kim Conti Clutts — August 7, 2024
  • Oral History: John D. (Johnny) Marchant — March 23, 2025
  • In Case You Missed It…You Can Now Watch Our Program On Prohibition In Lamorinda
  • Speaker Series: Prohibition in Lamorinda: Temperance leaders, law enforcement, and the saloons, resorts, moonshiners, and blind pigs they shut down

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