Our NUMU has a lot going on. For starters, this is the 10th year at its current location, and a celebration has been planned. In 2015, two existing museums combined into this one museum. So, this is actually the 60-year anniversary of museums in Los Gatos. This will be celebrated with an Anniversary Community Day, see below for details on this event.
History Museum–Los Gatos Museum Association become NUMU
In 1992 the History Museum of Los Gatos was located at Forbes Mill annex. The Firehouse Museum occupied, you guessed it, in the old firehouse at the corner of Main Street and Tait Avenue, changing its name to Los Gatos Museum Association in 1967. Currently NUMU rents space that the library was in prior to the new library. It is near the Town of Los Gatos Plaza at 106 E Main St., just off the Civic Plaza.
Communicating upcoming events
Last week I sat down with Jamie Donofrio, NUMU’s development + communication manager, to catch up with planned happenings. Coming up on Sept. 7 from 11am-6pm is the “60th Anniversary Community Day.” This day-long event will feature artists, live music, local history, tours, crafts and a ’60s costume contest with prizes. Hootenanny will provide the live music. There will be hands-on crafts and tours. This event is free with online registration. Walk-ins will be welcomed.
NUMU talks and tours
Monthly happenings are an interesting and important part of the museum’s Programs & Events lineup. These events feature details on current art and local historic exhibits. Coming up on Sept. 19 there will be a guided history talk featuring Roland Hsu, director of research, on the Chinese Railroad workers in North America project at Stanford University.
Tour and visitor services
Cheryl Huguenor, Tour and Visitor Services, hosts these talks and tours. Huguenor stated, “Our next tour (of our history exhibits) and talk is here on Friday, Sept. 19. I will discuss the role of the railroad in LG history, then we have a Stanford professor and researcher who will discuss the Chinese laborers who helped to build the Transcontinental Railroad.”
(Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan)
Newspaper ‘Wars’
On Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at 11am, NUMU will hold a talk about the newspaper wars. There was quite a newspaper rivalry in the late 1800s. This was a time when local newspapers literally tried to drive each other out of business. Think Los Gatan and Weekly-Times.
Los Gatos Roadshow: the ’60s live on
Were you living here in the ’60s? Do you have objects from these times? The museum is asking for items from this era that it can borrow. This is part of the year-long celebration of 60 years of the museums. Bring your items in with their history. Mementos, photographs, clothing and ticket stubs are being collected—but no bongs, please. These selected items will be on display Jan. 23-May 24, 2026.
Coming up, the first museum ‘Art Benefit’
The first Peace, Love + Art Benefit will be held on Nov. 15 at La Rinconada Country Club (’60s attire is suggested). A live art auction is planned. The theme is “groovy.” There will be dancing, eating and an awards celebration. Contact NUMU for tickets. And support our museum and have a bit of fun.
Awards will be Awarded
From the NUMU brochure on this event—awards will be awarded: The Dr. Ethel Dana Award recognizes members of the Los Gatos Museum Association community who’ve demonstrated “exceptional commitment to the museum and community by giving generously of their time, energy, and leadership.”
The Leo and Leona Awards for art and history recognize those members of the museum community who’ve contributed to preserving (or presenting) Bay Area history, or shown a commitment to fostering the arts in the community through exhibitions, mentorship, education or public engagement.
The awards are named for “The Cats” statues, which have stood along Highway 17 guarding the entrance of a renowned estate since 1922—and stand as a symbol of the Town of Los Gatos and the more than 100-year history of our residents’ deep commitment to the arts.
