Who We Are
Our Mission
Museum of American Heritage’s mission is to demonstrate mankind’s ability to enhance human life through technological innovation by collecting, preserving, and exhibiting mechanical and electrical artifacts.
To show the evolution, influence, and relevance of historic innovations to the technologies and society of the past and present. We collect, preserve, and display historic objects and inventions that illustrate the effects and influence of innovation before the age of computers.
The Museum of American Heritage (MOAH) is the Bay Area's only museum exclusively dedicated to the history of technological innovation from 1750 to 1950. Originally opened in 1990, MOAH relocated to the historic Williams House in downtown Palo Alto in 1997.
MOAH is a family-friendly learning environment where visitors of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to explore scientific and technological history through our unique exhibits, special events, and programs.
In addition to our exhibits and programs, MOAH maintains a collection of over 5,000 historic electrical and mechanical artifacts.
Frank Livermore
& MOAH
The Museum of American Heritage exists today thanks to the curiosity of its founder, Frank Livermore (1919-2000). In the early 1960s, Frank discovered an old Standard vacuum sweeper in a local junk shop. Intrigued by its unique mechanics, Frank purchased the sweeper, igniting his passion for collecting early electrical and mechanical devices. By the early 1980s, his Menlo Park home was crammed with all manner of vintage machinery, When a friend gave him a sign that said "Smithsonian West," he gave Frank the idea of starting a museum. A fortuitous sale of stock provided funding for the fledgling project and, assisted by his friend and attorney, Perry Moerdyke, Frank began the process of incorporating his museum.
In 1990 the Museum of American Heritage opened to the public. Prior to this the founders spent several years assembling and cataloging artifacts and creating portable exhibits to show at temporary locations. In 1997, MOAH was awarded custodianship of the historic home of Dr. Thomas Williams at 351 Homer Avenue in downtown Palo Alto. The Museum committed to restoring the historic house and garden as well as building the Frank Livermore center in honor of its founder. While Frank passed away in 2000, his legacy lives on in the exhibits, programs, and COLLECTIONS of the museum he established.
Read Frank’s obituary in the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE and the PALO ALTO WEEKLY
Williams House, Family & Gardens
In 1997 the Museum of American Heritage signed the lease to the historic residence of Dr. Thomas Marion Williams, an early Palo Alto physician. Designed by noted Bay Area architect Ernest Coxhead, the Williams’ family home was completed in 1907. The house remains largely as it was in the Williams era, complete with Dr. Williams’ original medical wing.
Dr. Williams, his wife Dora, and their daughters Rhona and Betty played active roles in the Palo Alto and Stanford communities. When Rhona died in 1989, she left the family property to the City of Palo Alto with the proviso that the house and gardens be maintained as a center for cultural purposes in honor of her parents.
A generous gift from the Mel and Bill Lane families in honor of their mother Ruth Bell Lane, co-founder of Sunset Magazine, has enabled MOAH to undertake extensive garden restorations. Mrs. Lane’s passionate enthusiasm for western gardening has guided our efforts to create period-appropriate aesthetic and culinary plantings on the property.
While MOAH rents the Williams Property from the City of Palo Alto for a nominal fee, all maintenance costs for the house and garden are borne by the Museum with generous support from the community.
Victory Garden
Please note: The MOAH victory garden is seasonal and closed part of the year. For information on the victory garden please contact 650-321-1004.
What is a victory garden?
During both the First and Second World Wars, civilians were encouraged to grow "victory gardens" to save canned produce for the military. These gardens were an important morale booster for Americans as growing, harvesting, and canning produce was something anyone could do to help play a role in the war effort.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that nearly 20,000,000 victory gardens were planted across the country and about 40% of all vegetables produced in the U.S. during WWII came from victory gardens.
The Museum of American Heritage Victory Garden
This victory garden at the Museum of American Heritage replicates a garden and planting plan based on the 1943 Sunset Vegetable Garden Book. The plants are all period-appropriate as they include only varieties of vegetables, flowers and fruit available to Californians in the early 1940s.
We are most grateful to the Garden Club of Palo Alto for creating and maintaining the victory garden in the historic Williams Gardens at the Museum of American Heritage.
Interested in learning about gardening or working in the MOAH gardens? We have garden volunteer opportunities available year round. For more information please contact 650-321-1004 or MAIL@MOAH.ORG. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the victory garden during our open hours (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays 11am to 4pm).
The victory garden is subject to seasonal closure.
“We greatly appreciate such dedicated volunteers sharing their time to spread and maintain the early history of our area”
— Linda, Santa Cruz, CA