Dear Museum friends,
Selected submissions will be featured in an inaugural exhibition, a commemorative book, and a digital time capsule.
Whether you’re in Professor ville or Paris, Midtown or Mumbai, Crescent Park or Curitiba, your perspective matters. The more voices who participate, the richer the mosaic we’ll create together. Submissions are open through June 30, 2026.
What future do you see for Palo Alto? I invite you to share your vision—and help spread the word—so together we can spark dialogue and shape a vibrant future.
Warmly,
Marguerite Gong Hancock
(Supported by a founding leadership gift of the Thoits Family)
President & CEO
THIS MONTH AT THE MUSEUM
The Museum will be in the community this weekend, ready to meet families and neighbors of all ages. Come join us!
MUSEUM PREVIEW
I AM PALO ALTO-an inaugural exhibition in the Museum’s main lobby—will bring stories of Palo Alto’s people to life in a dynamic, interactive way. Inspired by the city’s culture of innovation, we began with a simple question: how can today’s technology deepen our connection to the stories of yesterday—and even spark new stories for tomorrow?
We partnered with two leaders in experience design: next-generation transmedia studio Arctic7 and award-winning exhibition firm Local Projects. Our project team is made up of storytellers, graphic and UX designers, developers, and producers collaborating across time zones, from New York City to Austin to the Balkans.
Drawing on archival materials, historical research, and community input, the team iterated over months-developing mood boards and wireframes, software coding, testing, and refining—until the original concept evolved into a new interactive storytelling experience.
At its heart is an AI-powered digital docent, accessible through a touch-screen kiosk. Visitors can ask questions and engage directly with the lives and legacies of Palo Altans past and present. From Joan Baez and Steve Jobs to Jane Stanford, Thomas Foon Chew, and Sam McDonald, the experience surfaces stories, voices, and perspectives—spanning innovators, artists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers.
But I AM PALO ALTO is more than an exhibition—it’s a beginning. We envision it as a living, evolving mosaic of community identity. In true Palo Alto spirit, we’re launching with an initial phase of select stories, designed to grow over time—with community participation and philanthropic support—into a dynamic, interactive wall and digital collection of photos and video stories.
Imagine hundreds of voices—icons, unsung heroes, and (extra)ordinary Palo Altans, perhaps even yourself-continually expanding how we see the people who define this city and influence the world.
We can’t wait to share the first phase of the I AM PALO ALTO interactive experience with you!
Image (top): I AM PALO ALTO screen capture of Jane Stanford, co-founder of Stanford University.
Image (above): Artist’s rendering of the I AM PALO digital mosaic as it will appear in the Museum’s lobby.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
Bill has been a pillar of the community since he arrived in Palo Alto more than 60 years ago. He first came to California on his way to Korea, and took advantage of his one free day to visit Stanford University. He eventually became a student there, and graduated from the Graduate School of Business in 1960. Bill spent his career in real estate, and once had the fun of selling the “HP Garage” (of Hewlett-Packard fame). He and his late wife Carolyn were jointly granted the Tall Tree award for “Outstanding Citizen” in 1996. Their three children, Bill, Elizabeth, and Steve, each have three children of their own, many of whom attended Palo Alto High School. He’s been involved at the leadership level with the community in organizations ranging from the Peninsula Open Space Trust, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Palo Alto Community Fund.
We are so grateful to have Bill as founding visionary and Museum champion. Thank you, Bill!
PEOPLE IN THE MUSEUM
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
The Embarcadero Media Foundation has recognized the Museum as one of its Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund grant awardees, giving $20,000 to continue our work in the community. The Holiday Fund is a community tradition that channels local generosity into direct support for nonprofits helping families and children across the Midpeninsula. Since its launch in 1993, the Holiday Fund has raised more than $11 million to nonprofits in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and surrounding areas.
“On behalf of our entire grant committee, I want to congratulate and thank you for the work you do,” said Bill Johnson, Foundation Chairman. We are grateful that this is the Museum’s second grant from the Holiday Fund. A grant contributed in 2025 supported the development of our Juana Briones exhibit, telling the story of a 19th-century Palo Alto pioneer-an entrepreneur, matriarch, landowner, advocate, and healer.
JOIN US
Support the Museum today
A Museum shaped by, with, and for the community
In 2026, the Palo Alto Museum will bring to life a historic landmark as a vibrant place to discover, connect, and create. Through dynamic exhibits, events, and experiences for all ages, we will learn from our past, strengthen our community today, and inspire a brighter future.