The Orinda Historical Society is run entirely by volunteers. Your support keeps the museum open, the archives growing, and Orinda's stories available to the public.
Recurring contributions are the most helpful kind. They let us plan ahead, keep the museum doors open year-round, and steadily expand what we can preserve and share.
Prefer a single gift? Use the toggle button at the top of the form to make a one-time donation instead.
Every photograph, document, and newspaper issue we add to the public archive starts as a physical artifact that has to be scanned, cataloged, and uploaded.
Lights, displays, supplies, and the everyday cost of keeping our doors open every Saturday.
Acid-free storage, climate control, and the careful work of protecting fragile materials so they survive for the next generation.
The Orinda Historical Society was founded in 1970 by residents who recognized that Orinda's stories were disappearing as the city changed. For 55 years, our 220+ members and volunteers have kept that history alive: digitizing collections, maintaining exhibits, and preserving the documents and photographs that define this community.
We came close to closing in 2019. We kept our doors open through COVID. With the support of our community, we've digitized all 824 issues of the Orinda Sun (1948–1972), and we're building a permanent digital archive so these stories outlast all of us.
“I searched the photo archive and found a picture of my grandmother's house on Miner Road from 1952. I had no idea it existed.”
Orinda resident & OHS member
Help catalog artifacts, staff the museum on Saturdays, or assist with community events.
Old photographs, documents, school yearbooks, and ephemera from Orinda's past. We can scan and return originals if you'd like to keep them.
Have a story about Orinda's history you'd like to share? Or maybe you want to help us keep track of Orinda's rich oral history. If either applies to you, get in touch with us.
Including OHS in your estate plans helps secure the Society's future. Email info@orindahistory.org to learn more.
