The Hayward Area Historical Society operates a compact museum and research archive on the second floor of 22380 Foothill Boulevard in downtown Hayward. Founded in 1956, it collects and interprets the history of Hayward, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Ashland, Cherryland, and Fairview, making it the go-to stop for anyone curious about how this East Bay community grew (source: [Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/biz/hayward-area-historical-society-hayward-2)).
The HAHS Museum of History & Culture pairs a History Gallery with the HAHS Art Gallery, so a single visit can move from local artifacts to rotating art exhibitions (source: [HAHS](https://www.haywardareahistory.org/hahs-museum-of-history-culture/)). Families will find drop-in guided crafts, storytime, and a toy-and-book nook for younger visitors. Members receive complimentary admission and store discounts (source: [Scout](https://scout.kids/places/413c3181-7a41-49cb-9c38-574f9f684131)). Researchers can contact the Archivist directly with requests about the collection.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
The galleries open Thursday through Saturday, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Staff office hours run Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (source: [HAHS](https://www.haywardareahistory.org/hahs-museum-of-history-culture/)). Thursday and Friday afternoons tend to be the quietest times to visit. Some listings still describe the museum as appointment-only, so call (510) 581-0223 or email [email protected] before you go. Plan for about an hour. Downtown Hayward BART is a short walk away, which makes it easy to pair the museum with a meal on nearby B Street.
