Historical Tours, Lectures, and Projects
Upcoming History Events
Historical Walking Tour: Old Alvarado Area
Date: Saturday, August 8, 2009 :
Time: 1:00 PM
Place: Meet at the Union City Historical Museum on Smith St. - Cost: Free!
Last Chance to take an Historical Walking Tour of Old Alvarado!
Ever wonder how the Old Alvarado district got its charm? Would you like to know who built the classic old homes? Do you know where the first courthouse in Alameda County was built?
If you can't answer those questions, or if you want to know more, then join us as we take a trip back in time this Saturday on UC50's final historical tour of our anniversary year.
Led by local historian Tim Swenson, you will see sites that were formerly home to places such as:
- A 1940's-era firehouse
- Manuel Silva's old blacksmith shop
- Union City's original Chinatown
- The Alvarado Post Office
- The original St. Anne's Catholic Church
- The Holly House
- The Alvarado Hotel
- Print shop for the Alvarado Pioneer
- First Presbyterian Church of Alvarado
- Bank of Alameda County
- ...and more!
History Tidbits
Do you know how Union City got its name? Or what two original towns were incorporated to form Union City in 1959? Our town carries a rich and colorful history dating back to the Gold Rush, and our 50th Anniversary Celebration is the perfect time to remember our roots!
Here's a sneak peek at some of the intriguing and fun facts Union City residents and students will discover as they participate in our Historical Tours and Lectures:
- In 1850, entrepreneurs John and William Horner built a settlement in a pastoral corner of the Bay Area, in what today is Alameda County. The settlement was eventually named after the Horners' steamboat, "The Union".
- Gold Rush hopefuls found a different kind of gold here: fertile soil ideal for farming. Over the next 50 years, salt manufacturers, sugar and steel factories, and flour mills became thriving industries.
- The communities of Alvarado and Decoto combined to create Union City in 1959.
- Union City is home to two California Historical Landmarks: Alvarado, the original county seat, was the site of the first county courthouse, and the first successful sugar beet factory in the U.S.
- Union City is "sister city" to Santa Rosalia in Baja California Sur, Mexico; Pasay City in the Philippines, Jalandhar in India, and Chiang Rai in Thailand, helping to foster global relationships.
- Union City has established a youth cultural exchange program with "sister center” Hangzhou Youth Cultural Activity Center in Hangzhou, China.
- In 1999, the National Civic League named Union City an All-America City.
Come participate in the informal and entertaining informational events that will enrich your civic understanding and pride! Events will include talks at the library and local schools, guided walking tours, bus tours, and multi-media presentations. We’re also writing a special, commemorative Anniversary Booklet, showing the most significant events of the past 50 years.
To volunteer for this committee, contact Chair Tim Swenson at 510-489-8944.
