County funds boost Palo Alto Museum’s preservation efforts

SAN JOSE – Santa Clara County has awarded the Palo Alto Museum a grant to support its work to archive, digitize, and store records. Preservation of the Bill Miller “Conversation Piece” collection is the Museum’s first video digitization undertaken with County support.

“The Palo Alto Museum is working to showcase the legacy of innovation and heritage of Palo Alto through preserving local history and stories,” said County Supervisor Joe Simitian, who recommended grant funding. “Bill Miller’s ‘Conversation Piece’ series offers a window into the unique character and history of Palo Alto, featuring voices and perspectives that might otherwise be lost to time.”

The Bill Miller collection includes more than 200 episodes of “Conversation Piece,” a public-access television program hosted by the late Palo Alto resident and historian. The show, which aired for over two decades, captured candid interviews with local leaders, residents, and notable figures, chronicling the history and culture of the region. The Museum’s digitization project will ensure these fragile VHS recordings are preserved for future generations.

The County has a history of supporting the Palo Alto Museum, helping preserve both the Roth Building on Homer Avenue, which houses the Museum, and the historical resources within. The Roth Building, a Birge Clark-designed structure from 1932, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Past historic grants have supported the conservation of art frescoes and restoration of the building’s roof, historic windows, and 1940s Otis elevator.

“Every step we take brings us closer to opening a one-of-a-kind museum,” said Richard Green, Palo Alto Museum Board President. “This grant not only protects a valuable piece of history but also helps make that history accessible to everyone.”

Once complete, the Museum will be the permanent home to the City of Palo Alto/Palo Alto Historical Association/Palo Alto Museum archives. It will also serve as a cultural hub, featuring interactive exhibits, a café, meeting spaces, and hands-on programs, all designed to inspire engagement with Palo Alto’s storied past and promising future. The Museum is planned to officially open January 2026 with a “soft” opening planned in spring 2025.

“This latest grant builds on a strong partnership between the County and the Palo Alto Museum,” Simitian noted. “Together, we’re preserving our local history and creating a space that’s not just about the past, but also about community, connection, and education.”

Learn more about the Museum and its plans at paloaltohistorymuseum.org.