Chan, Zuckerberg Give $1 Million To Redwood City History Museum

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have donated $1 million to help complete a rooftop terrace at the San Mateo County History Museum in downtown Redwood City, the San Mateo County Historical Association announced.

The 2,897-square-foot terrace will be the final phase of a multiyear campus expansion that includes a new carriage house and automobile gallery. The project will add about 15,000 square feet of exhibition, educational and public gathering space.

The terrace will extend from the third-floor event space of the Taube Family Carriage House and Automobile Gallery, creating an indoor-outdoor venue for community gatherings, business events, celebrations and private functions. It is expected to open in early 2028.

“This extraordinary gift does more than complete a rooftop terrace, it creates a place where our community will gather, celebrate and make history for generations,” said Mitch Postel, president of the Historical Association. “It is an investment in the future of our Museum and the community we serve.”

The donation brings the Historical Association closer to completing its $25.5 million fundraising campaign for the expansion.

The Carriage House and Automobile Gallery is scheduled to open Nov. 7, along with two other additions to the museum campus: a new exhibit at the historic Lathrop House and the HERO Natural History Gallery.

The Historical Association plans to mark the openings with History in Motion, a free grand opening celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 7 at the museum campus.

The new Carriage House will feature the museum’s Brewster Carriage Collection, Victorian-era artifacts and rotating automobile exhibitions. The Lathrop House exhibit will offer new galleries and interpretation of the historic 1863 building, while the natural history gallery will explore the Peninsula’s natural history.

Once the expansion is complete, the museum expects annual attendance to double from about 60,000 to 120,000 visitors. The expanded facilities are also expected to accommodate about 104 events annually, drawing an estimated 14,300 additional visitors for educational programs, community gatherings and other events.

“For the past 10 years, Mark and Priscilla have supported organizations working to strengthen communities across San Mateo County,” said Elisa Espinoza, a senior program officer at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. We’re proud to support this next chapter and help make this expanded community resource possible for generations to come.”

The San Mateo County Historical Association operates the San Mateo County History Museum in Redwood City, the Woodside Store and Sanchez Adobe in Pacifica. The nonprofit preserves and shares local history through exhibits, historic sites, educational programs and community events.