Campbell, in the Santa Clara Valley between San Jose, Santa Clara and Los Gatos, may be a bit hard to find. But for travelers driving along state Highways 17 and 85, it may be worth a detour to downtown Campbell, the center of this city of 44,000.
The commercial core is a lively, pedestrian-friendly area with more than 50 shops and restaurants in restored buildings from long ago when Campbell was the center of an agricultural region.
While Campbell’s tallest building is the 17-story office tower at the nearby Pruneyard Shopping Center, the downtown area has a 130-foot water tower from 1928 with a small park at its base. The water tower is a block away from Campbell Avenue, the main artery; there’s a busy nighttime scene at its many outdoor restaurants and bars. Downtown boasts many independent stores, including a doll store and a used bookstore.
A century ago, Campbell was known as Orchard City. It had three canneries where apricots, pears and cherries were packed. Today the main agricultural event is a Sunday morning farmer’s market.
There’s ample parking in downtown Campbell, and the light rail train from San Jose has a downtown stop, too.
To learn more about the city, it’s worth checking out two downtown landmarks, the Campbell Historical Museum and Ainsley House; both are open from Friday through Sunday.
Kerry Perkins, supervisor of the Campbell Historical Museum, said, “Visitors enjoy learning about Campbell’s history, focusing on its agricultural roots to its growth as a Santa Clara Valley suburb.”
One museum exhibit describes a visit U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt made to Campbell in 1903.
Perhaps an even better way to go back in time in Campbell is to visit the restored Ainsley House, which is listed on the National Register of Historical Places.
Built in 1925, the two-story, 15-room English Tudor Revival structure has a distinctive roof that’s designed to look like thatched straw and exemplifies the additional influence of the 1920s Craftsman architectural style on the home.
The Ainsley House once sat in an 88-acre orchard. Original owners John and Alcinda Ainsley made their fortune in fruit canning. At one point, the Ainsley company was the largest employer in Campbell. It produced 6,000 tons of fruit each year, with most shipped to England.
Tour guides in the house point out signs of the couple’s wealth: silk damask on the walls, a formal dining room, and a three-car garage called the Carriage House.
Holiday events at Ainsley, including expanded hours, special tours, visits with Santa, tea service and evening open houses (with extra charges) continue through December.
An interesting video display in the Ainsley House shows how the building was moved from its original spot in the southwest corner of an orchard at present-day Hamilton and Bascom avenues to its present location in 1990. It cost $50,000 to build the house in the 1920s, $230,000 to move it in 1990, and $200,00 to replace the roof in 2007. In contrast, today the average price for a home in downtown Campbell is $1.4 million.
The Ainsley House is surrounded by Campbell’s Civic Center, which is in the middle of an update of its own. A new police station and library are being built on adjacent parcels. Both structures should be completed in 2025.
Ainsley House is located at 300 Grant St., Campbell. Holiday admission is $8-$12; free for ages 6 and under. The Campbell Historical Museum is at 51 N. Central Ave., Campbell. Admission is $2; free for ages 6 and under. Both are closed in late December and early January. For more information, visit campbellmuseums.com.
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