Half Moon Bay History Association and Jail Museum

Welcome to the Half Moon Bay History Association

Our group was established in 2006 with the goal of preserving and celebrating the history of the Coastside. We hold quarterly speaker events on a variety of historic topics, provide an education program to local third-grade schools, and serve as a resource for those with questions about or an interest in the history of this unique region.

Thanks to a partnership with the City of Half Moon Bay, we were able to establish a museum in the historic jail in downtown Half Moon Bay. We are also currently working on a project to establish a larger Coastside History Museum in the Johnston Barn building behind the jail. Volunteers and Donations to help with our projects are more than welcome!

More Half Moon Bay History Content on Buzz ~ Lectures, videos, podcasts…

The Half Moon Bay History Association has opened a small museum in the historic Half Moon Bay Jail to be able to share and celebrate Coastside History, while the larger Johnston Barn Museum work progresses. As part of the initiative, we have trained volunteer docents  to educate museum visitors.

Come by and learn about the Spanish Land Grant Era, Bootlegging and Prohibition, Maritime History, the Ohlone Indians, the various immigrant communities who settled the Coastside, prominent historic buildings in town and the stories behind those who built them… and much more!

If you’re interested in local history, we’d love to have you join us!

Volunteer as a docent, or find another way to volunteer.

Just email [email protected]

Looking for Docents and other Volunteers for HMB Coastside History Museum!