Two years prior to the Donner Party’s disastrous attempt, the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy wagon train successfully arrived in California—with two more people than it started with—and its members helped settle Sunnyvale.
The Sunnyvale Historical Society is celebrating those settlers, along with folks who got off the train at Sunnyvale’s Murphy Station, at an Oct. 25 “Trails to Rails” event at the Heritage Park Museum, located at 570 E. Remington Drive. The event takes place from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and will focus on the period from the 1840s -1920s.
Frank X Mullen will portray “Old” Caleb Greenwood, the mountain man who helped guide the wagon train over the Sierra Nevada. He was 80 years old at the time. Visitors will also learn about the Horseback Party of Six, who left the rest of the travelers to reach Sutter’s Fort and return with more supplies. The “End of the Trail” wagon camp will give visitors the chance learn about life along the trail.
The event will also celebrate the early trains that made their stop at Murphy Station (now the Sunnyvale Station) and helped to ensure the city’s growth. Bay Area Garden Railway Society will have steam engines running on a 20-by-40-foot track. Members of the South Bay Historical Railroad Society, which represents the Santa Clara Railway Museum, will also be at the event to share even more history about the San Francisco to San José rail line.
The event will acknowledge the 175-year anniversary of California’s statehood with a special booth.
“Trails to Rails’ will also feature shows, music, games and crafts such as doll- and puppet- making, building a train or wagon, carding and spinning wool, letter pressing and panning for gold and gems. Food from the Old Greenwood BBQ Truck will be available for sale.
Attendance is free, but some crafts will be ticketed. For more information, visit Heritageparkmuseum.org or call 408-749-0220.