Amy S.
Yelp
Commonly toured homes of historical significance in (northern) CA include the John Muir House (Martinez) and the Winchester Mystery House (San Jose). Hopefully the Galindo House and Gardens in Concord will soon be just as well known and visited. Until recent years, the Galindo House was owned by the City of Concord and unable to be viewed publicly. Ruth Galindo left the home to the City to be opened as a museum, following her death in 1999. All of the items in the home were left to the Concord Historical Society and placed into storage. Ruth Galindo was the fourth generation of her family to live in the home once given to her great-grandfather for fighting in the Spanish War. (Cutlery at the dining table was engraved with the letter "F", for fourth.) She left behind no heirs, nor did her two siblings, Harold and Leonora, who also lived in the home.
The City of Concord was unable to afford necessary restorations to the home and it sadly sat until 2010 when the City finally agreed to give the home to the Concord Historical Society, who began working toward making the home into a museum, as intended. The original belongings were mostly returned to the home, except several paintings which were stolen when the storage facility where they were kept was robbed. Most of the items in the home are the original items belonging to the Galindo family. Books, furniture, clothing, dishes, etc. - all original and wonderfully preserved.
How excited I was to drive by the Galindo House yesterday with my husband and realize they were open for tours! We parked in the private lot behind the home and walked to the front door of the 9-room house. As we opened it, a woman stood in the doorway and instructed us to close the door and ring the original bell, which was a button in the center of the door. The bell chimed and she opened it again, then pointed out the elaborately designed door hinges. From small details like the hinges to more obvious ones like the fine wood on the first level flooring, the importance of status during that period was emphasized throughout the house.
A tour led by three different ladies took us through the home and went into great detail of the family members and the home's history. A little local history was taught as well. The town of Todos Santos was founded by Salvio Pacheco. Merchants were paid $1 to begin commerce around the main Plaza. Todos Santos Plaza kept it's name, but the town was renamed to Concord months after it was developed (1869). The women showed us maps of land parcels and told us about their owners. They then detailed every corner of the home's interior. It was extremely interesting and informative. The Galindo House was built in 1956 by Francisco Galindo. Unlike modern homes, there is only one closet. Clothing was placed in drawers or hung in armoires. The home was heated by coal fireplaces and had plumbing even in the upstairs bedrooms. The family was very religious and crucifixes are in every room. Pictures of beloved animals, well-dressed dolls, and seasonally designed medallions above the light fixtures, all paint a more intimate picture of the lives of the Galindo family. Even a 1933 Cal Berkeley yearbook rests in one of the bedrooms. (The year my grandmother was born!)
The Concord Historical Society hosts an annual tea party at the House, as well as other socials from time to time. Information about their events can be found on their webpage. The members decorate the home during the Christmas holiday and invite you to visit again at that time. Thanks to their hard work, the home is now open for tours year-round, but only on Sundays from 1-4. Please go visit this piece of our local history! It's a wonderful story of many very significant families, and the women telling it are delightfully engaging. It's free to visit but donations are gratefully accepted. Post cards and candy are also available for sale. Don't forget to sign the guestbook before you leave!!
