Back when Hollywood was mostly a desert, there was a thriving film industry in Northern California. Fremont's Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum chronicles these vibrant art form via posters, books, photographs and screenings in their theater. Visit the website to find out more on upcoming events.
In 1994, a group of ten artists from the inland Sepik River area in New Guinea spent five months at Stanford carving 40 sculptures of this wonderful garden. The wood and stone sculptures, most of which depict people and animals, highlight traditional New Guinean myths and creation stories while keeping in mind their context within an American university; everyone finds a story they can relate to in these sculptures, because they express the common emotions of humankind. On the third Sunday of each month at 2p, there is a free, docent-led tour.
There is something for everyone at San Jose Museum of Art: contemporary art, lectures, concerts, tours, book signings, special events and even programs for children. The museum has been host to many outstanding traveling shows and has been a champion of local artists. The museum bookstore offers a nice selection of usual museum merchandise, such as books, tote bags and greeting cards. The museum cafe offers a wonderful rotating menu of seasonal delights.
Is there a better place than Silicon Valley to learn about the history of hi-tech and its impact on the Bay Area and the world? Not likely. This museum offers not only a history of the Intel Corporation and Silicon Valley, but also a display of interesting exhibits on how chips, microprocessors and memory technology all work together. Learn about semiconductors, chip design, fabrication and packaging. Group tours are available. The gift shop is an excellent spot to find mementos from Silicon Valley.