Museu Castro Valley History Museum

The story of Castro Valley begins long before the town had a name. For thousands of years, the Ohlone people lived in and cared for this valley, sustained by its creeks, rolling hills, and abundant natural resources. Their presence marks the earliest chapter of Castro Valley’s rich and layered history.

In the mid-1800s, the land became part of Rancho San Lorenzo, granted to Don Guillermo Castro. Castro took ownership of the valley that would later bear his name, but his fortunes changed. Through a combination of financial hardship and gambling debt, much of the land was lost—eventually passing primarily to Faxon Dean Atherton. Over time, Atherton sold the land in parcels to the founding families who would go on to build the community we know today.

By the early 1900s, Castro Valley was a rural landscape of farms, ranches, orchards, and chicken operations. Agriculture defined daily life, and chickens famously outnumbered people. At its peak, Castro Valley became the second-largest egg‑producing area in the United States, earning national recognition for its thriving poultry industry.

The valley also lived through colorful and formative eras—bootlegging during Prohibition, cowboys working local ranches, and the rise of a volunteer fire department, staffed by dedicated local men who helped protect and shape the growing community. These individuals, along with merchants, farmers, and civic leaders, laid the foundation for Castro Valley’s identity.

After World War II, Castro Valley entered a period of dramatic change. Large ranches and farmlands were subdivided into housing developments, and families arrived in great numbers, transforming the rural valley into a bustling suburban community. Along the way, local businesses, shops, and services emerged—each playing an important role in the town’s evolving story.

The Castro Valley History Museum brings these stories together, tracing the journey from the Ohlone people to the modern community of today. Through photographs, artifacts, and personal histories, visitors are invited to explore the people, places, and events that shaped Castro Valley.

Come visit and discover the rich history of the valley we call home.