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Contra Costa County.

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Welcome to the Contra Costa County Historical Society

Exterior signage for the History Center.

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Mt Diablo from Green & Stone Valley Roads, 1937

Research the Collection

Explore the vast collections found only at the Contra Costa County History Center.

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Postcard of Southern Pacific Railroad Ferry 'Solano' c1910

Contra Costa County History

Discover the history of Contra Costa County: its people, its places, its stories.

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News

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March 22, 2023

Historical Society seeks Executive Director

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Contra Costa County Historical society awards Ezekiel Jenson a $1500 scholarship in its annual essay writing contest.

December 16, 2022

Contra Costa County Historical Society Announces Winners of Inaugural Essay Contest

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Events

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Bookstore

All books

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Book cover for Images of America: Early Livermore

Images of America

Early Livermore

Book cover for The Pride of Port Chicago

The Pride of Port Chicago

Dan Colchico

Book cover for Bowdler's Elegy for the Pony Express

Elegy

Pony Express

Book cover for Echoes of an Open Space Ranch

Echoes of an Open Space Ranch

The Story of the Old Borges Ranch

Book cover for Contra Costa Chronicles Spring 1974

Contra Costa Chronicles Spring 1974

Book cover for Be It Ever So Humble

Be It Ever So Humble

Book cover for In The Shadow of Diablo: Mystery of the Great Stone House

In The Shadow of Diablo

Mystery of the Great Stone House

Book cover for In the Shadow of Diablo: Death at the Healing Waters

In The Shadow of Diablo

Death at the Healing Waters

Book cover for On These Promising Shores of the Pacific: A History of St. Mary's

On These Promising Shores of the Pacific

A History of St. Mary's

Book cover for Martinez A California Town

Martinez A California Town

Book cover for Baldwin Diary

Baldwin Diary

Book cover for Legacy Homes and Their Stories

Legacy Homes and Their Stories

Book cover for Building the Benicia Martinez Bridge

Building the Benicia

Martinez Bridge

Book cover for Images of America: El Cerrito

Images of America

El Cerrito

Book cover for Images of America: El Sobrante

Images of America

El Sobrante

Book cover for Images of America: Hercules

Images of America

Hercules

Book cover for Images of America: Lafayette

Images of America

Lafayette

Book cover for Images of America: Maritime Contra Costa County

Images of America

Maritime Contra Costa County

Book cover for Images of America: Martinez

Images of America

Martinez

Book cover for Images of America: Niles-Fremont

Images of America

Niles-Fremont

Book cover for Images of America: Pittsburg

Images of America

Pittsburg

Book cover for Postcard History Series: East Contra Costa County

Postcard History Series

East Contra Costa County

Book cover for Images of America: Pleasant Hill

Images of America

Pleasant Hill

Looking Back

Tales of Old Antioch

Book cover for Images of America: Al Zampa and the Bay Area Bridges

Images of America

Al Zampa and the Bay Area Bridges

Book cover for Images of America: Antioch

Images of America

Antioch

Book cover for Images of America: Bay Point

Images of America

Bay Point

Book cover for Images of America: Benicia

Images of America

Benicia

Book cover for Images of America: Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve

Images of America

Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve

Book cover for Images of America: Brentwood

Images of America

Brentwood

Book cover for Images of America: Byron Hot Springs

Images of America

Byron Hot Springs

Book cover for Images of America: Clayton

Images of America

Clayton

Book cover for Images of America: Crockett

Images of America

Crockett

King & Queen of the River

Book cover for King & Queen of the River

Book cover for Living Landscape: The Rise of the East Bay Regional Parks

Living Landscape

The Rise of the East Bay Regional Parks

Book cover for Mount Diablo Guide

Mount Diablo Guide

Book cover for Spanning the Strait: Building the Zampa Bridge

Spanning the Strait

Building the Zampa Bridge

Book cover for East of these Golden Shores: Architecture of the Earlier Days in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties

East of these Golden Shores

Architecture of the Earlier Days in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties

Book cover for Footprints in the Soil: A Portuguese-Californian Remembers

Footprints in the Soil

A Portugese-Californian Remembers

Book cover for Harem Scarem in El Cerrito: The Life of a Little Girl Growing up in El Cerrito, California

Harem Scarem in El Cerrito

The Life of a Little Girl Growing up in El Cerrito, California

Book cover for History of Concord: Its Progress and Promise

History of Concord

Its Progress and Promise

Book cover for Postcard History Series: Around Crockett

Postcard History Series

Around Crockett

Book cover for History of Contra Costa County, California

History of Contra Costa County, California

Book cover for Clayton, Not Quite Shangri-La

Clayton

Not Quite Shangri-La

Book cover for Concord's Dynamic Half Century

Concord's Dynamic Half Century

Book cover for Early California Voyages

Early California Voyages

Book cover for Earthquake Exodus, 1906

Earthquake Exodus, 1906

Book cover for Eccentrics, Heroes, and Cutthroats of Old Berkeley

Eccentrics, Heroes, and Cutthroats of Old Berkeley

Book cover for Days Gone By Volume 1

Days Gone By

Volume 1

Book cover for Days Gone By Volume 3

Days Gone By

Volume 3

Book cover for Walnut Creek: Arroyo de las Nueces

Walnut Creek

Arroyo de las Nueces

Book cover for A Mid-California Illustrated History

A Mid-California Illustrated History

Book cover for Al Zampa: A Life Building Bridges

Al Zampa

A Life Building Bridges

Book cover for Images of America: Building the Caldecott Tunnel

Images of America

Building the Caldecott Tunnel

Book cover for Images of America: Pinole

Images of America

Pinole

Book cover for Pinole Through Time

Pinole Through Time

Book cover for Images of America: Richmond

Images of America

Richmond

Book cover for Images of America: Port Costa

Images of America

Port Costa

Book cover for Images of America: Port Chicago

Images of America

Port Chicago

Book cover for Images of America: San Francisco Bay Area Aviation

Images of Aviation

San Francisco Bay Area Aviation

Book cover for Images of Rail: Sacramento Norther Railway

Images of Rail

Sacramento Northern Railway

Book cover for Images of America: Rodeo

Images of America

Rodeo

Book cover for In Sickness and Health: Medical Care in Contra Costa County 1951-2000

In Sickness and Health

Medical Care in Contra Costa County 1951 - 2000

Book cover for Shadows on the Hills: Place Names of Contra Costa County, CA

Shadows on the Hills

Place Names of Contra Costa County, CA

Book cover for Images of America: Vacaville

Images of America

Vacaville

Book cover for Images of America: San Ramon Valley

Images of America

San Ramon Valley

Book cover for Images of America: Vallejo

Images of America

Vallejo

Book cover for Images of America: Walnut Creek

Images of America

Walnut Creek

Book cover for Images of America: Concord

Images of America

Concord

Book cover for Days Gone By Volume 2

Days Gone By

Volume 2

Book cover for Amelia's Nortonville

Amelia's Nortonville

Book cover for San Ramon Chronicles: Stories of Bygone Days

San Ramon Chronicles

Stories of Bygone Days

Book cover for Rose Hill: A Comprehensive History of a Pioneer Cemetery in the Mount Diablo Coal Field

Rose Hill

A Comprehensive History of a Pioneer Cemetery in the Mount Diablo Coal Field

Book cover for Before BART: Electric Railroads Link Contra Costa County

Before BART

Electric Railroads Link Contra Costa County