The journey to establish the Campbell Historical Museum spans four decades. Local community activists Jeanette Watson and the Campbell Country Woman's Club took early steps in the early 1960s advocating and fundraising for a museum. 

The museum first opened its doors in January 1964 as part of the Country Woman's Club.  Over the years, the museum's location and stewardship changed many times.  Since 1983, the museum has been located in Campbell's first public building, Firehouse #1 at 51 N. Central Avenue.

Visitors can explore the cty's rich history through self guided tours centered around dynamic exhibits.  These exhibits provide insight into daily life in the Santa Clara Valley over the past century.  Engaging, hands-on features in each exhibit area encourage personal interactions with historical objects in order to better understand life in the region throughout history and today.

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The mission of the Campbell Historical Museum and Ainsley House is to interpret and preserve, in innovative and meaningful ways, the history of the Campbell area from its pioneer beginnings to today's 21st century setting, and to relate that history within the broader context of the Santa Clara Valley and encompassing region.