California Landmarks in San Mateo County

San Mateo

California Landmark 934
Temporary Detention Camps for Japanese Americans
AKA Tanforan Assembly Center
Tanforan Park Shopping Center on El Camino Real
San Bruno

The temporary detention camps (also known as 'assembly centers') represent the first phase of the mass incarceration of 97,785 Californians of Japanese ancestry during World War II. Pursuant to Executive Order 9066 signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, thirteen makeshift detention facilities were constructed at various California racetracks, fairgrounds, and labor camps. These facilities were intended to confine Japanese Americans until more permanent concentration camps, such as those at Manzanar and Tule Lake in California, could be built in isolated areas of the country. Beginning on March 30, 1942, all native-born Americans and long-time legal residents of Japanese ancestry living in California were ordered to surrender themselves for detention.

This site has no commemorative plaque.
(Citation courtesy of CERES)

California Landmark 939
Twentieth Century Folk Art Environment: Capidro
Princeton Road
Menlo Park

The late John Guidici, a retired gardener, began landscaping his Menlo Park house in 1932, using mostly cement, local sand, and the shells that were available free at local beaches.

Citation is courtesy of CERES

This site has no commemorative plaque, and Mr. Guidici's art work no longer exists.

California Landmark 949
First Congregational Church of Pescadero
San Gregorio Street
Pescadero

The Plaque Reads

First Congregational Church of Pescadero

Built in May 1867, this is the oldest church building on its original site within the San Mateo-Santa Clara County region. Its Classical Revival style reflects the cultural background of pioneer Yankee settlers of the south San Francisco peninsula coast. The steeple was appended to the bell tower in 1890. During repairs caused by a minor fire in 1940, the social hall was added.

Registered Landmark No. 949
Plaque placed by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the First Congregational Church of Pescadero, February ??, 1984.

The church is also a National Landmark.

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