San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum

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Lodi, CA
San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum

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The San Joaquin County Historical Museum showcases the diverse histories of San Joaquin County, CA
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11/03/2026

The San Joaquin County Historical Society & Museum Docent Council is proud to announce the 34th Annual Festival of Trees taking place on December 5 and 6, 2026 on the Museum grounds in Micke Grove Park, Lodi, California, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM each day. An abbreviated preview event for those who have difficulty in large crowds will take place on Friday, December 4, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Festival of Trees features nearly sixty breathtaking holiday trees, all sponsored and decorated by local volunteers and non-profits. Family activities abound, from candle-making, to cookie decorating, and even hands-on instruction in making rag dolls just like pioneer children would have! There will be a fully-stocked boutique and the Museum’s swag makers will be busy assembling holiday wreaths and swags for sale. Several local food trucks will also be on site serving various types of delicious cuisine. Together, these many offerings make Festival of Trees a memorable time and a heartwarming tradition for the whole family.

General admission tickets: $15 each. Children (age 2-12): $5 each. Children under 2: Free. There is a parking fee of $6 per car. Pre-purchase tickets include free parking and can be purchased at the Museum office, by calling (209) 331-2055 or online at www.sanjoaquinhistory.org/trees. Online and phone orders end November 13. Tickets are also available at House of Coffees in Lodi, Music Box in Lodi, or Bungalow in Lincoln Center, Stockton.

11/03/2026

November is National Native American Heritage Month! This month, we recognize the histories, cultures, and continuing contributions of Native American communities, including the Yokuts and Miwok peoples whose homelands include what is now San Joaquin County.

Ready to explore our local roots? Head over to the San Joaquin County Historical Museum at Micke Grove Regional Park to experience their Native American Gallery and celebrate the profound legacy of our valley’s original inhabitants.

Plan your visit: https://sanjoaquinhistory.org/

10/30/2026

How about a Halloween-themed ?
Seen here in 1987, Don and Jeanne Phillips put the finishing touches on handmade decorations at their Phillips Farms Pumpkin Patch, located on Highway 12 in Lodi. Don established Phillips Farms in 1950, and his venture quickly grew into one of the busiest farm stands in the Lodi area. In the 1960s, he and Jeanne started the Phillips Farms Pumpkin Patch which would become the centerpiece of fond childhood and family memories for thousands throughout San Joaquin County for over 50 years. Today, the Phillips Family owns and operates Michael David W**ery at the same location. Stockton Record Collection.

10/27/2026

Last night was another fantastic Quarterly Historical Dinner and meeting of the Museum membership! Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner catered by 𝐹𝐼𝐿𝐼𝑃𝐼𝑁𝐴 - 𝑂𝑊𝑁𝐸𝐷 𝐵𝑈𝑆𝐼𝑁𝐸𝑆𝑆🇵🇭👩🏽‍🍳 paired with w**e donated by Freakshow ✨ Michael David W**ery. After dinner, noted author and historian John Boessenecker gave a fascinating recount of the life and times of Joaquin Murrieta, with specific focus on the notorious bandit’s activities in Stockton. Our Quarterly Historical Dinners are just one of the many perks of membership here at the San Joaquin County Historical Museum! Visit our website to learn more and become a member today!

10/15/2026

This Saturday, October 17, the San Joaquin County Historical Museum will participate in the Sacramento Archives Crawl! Meet with archivists from throughout the region at four different locations in downtown Sacramento and learn about the fascinating history that local institutions preserve. You can visit our table from 10am – 4pm at the California State Archives located at 1020 O Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. For more information, visit https://www.sacramentoarchivescrawl.com/crawl-2026.

Photo: Children ring the “New Freedom Bell” in downtown Stockton on August 15, 1987. The United States of America celebrated the 200th anniversary of the United States Constitution in 1897. As part of the festivities, this replica of the Liberty Bell traveled the country, making stops in communities nationwide.
Stockton Record Collection

10/12/2026

Thank you to all who attended the 6th Annual San Joaquin County Tractor Fest on Saturday, October 10! This year was another amazing and record-breaking event beacause of YOU!

Nearly 650 people joined us for a day of family fun and education as we worked together to inspire the next generation of farmers, agricultural innovators, and reponsible citizens.

We are grateful for the support of our sponsors: San Joaquin County Farm Bureau Federation, Mulrooney Auction Company, Holt of California, Oak Valley Community Bank and F&M Bank.

We would also like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all of the tractor owners and drivers, as well as our many vendors and community partners: San Joaquin County Farm Bureau, San Joaquin County Ag Commissioner's Office, UC Cooperative Extension, Tokay Colony 4-H, Tokay FFA, Restore the Delta, City of Lodi Watershed Program, Stockton East Water District, Visit Stockton, The Edible Schoolyard Project, San Joaquin County Office of Education, San Joaquin County Delta College Agriculture Department, San Joaquin County Young Farmers and Ranchers, Ty's Gourmet Dogs, Peachy's Food to Go, Rise & Shine Coffee, Michael's Heavenly Sweets, and Dogtown Pumpkins. Special thanks to our docent quilters for creating two beautiful handmade quilts that were raffled to raise funds for our education programs, and to Jim Marsh's Chili Boys and The Fiddletown Preservation Spasm Band who kept our toes tapping all day.

Mark your calendars for October 9, 2027 for the 7th Annual San Joaquin County Tractor Fest and let's keep it growing, together!

Photos courtesy of Evan Hust and Leslie Avansino.

10/08/2026

Special delivery from Kautz Farms Ironstone Vineyards for Tractor Fest! Come get up close and have your picture taken with this amazing machine on Saturday from 9am-2pm!

10/08/2026

Our talented docents have created two beautiful custom quilts that will be raffled off at the 6th Annual San Joaquin County Tractor Fest this Saturday, October 10 from 9am-2pm!

Tickets will be $5 each or 6 for $20. The winner will be contacted after the event so you do not have to be present to win. Tickets will only be on sale during Tractor Fest so don’t miss out!

10/07/2026

It’s a beautiful day for a shakedown cruise of the Museum’s 1956 International Harvester TD-6 as we prepare for the 6th annual San Joaquin County Tractor Fest this Saturday, October 10 from 9am-2pm!

This tractor was originally donated to the San Joaquin Delta College Ag Mechanics department by the International Harvester Stockton Plant. It was used by Delta College until 1985 and was gifted to the Museum in 1996. See this and so many more tractors in this Saturday’s tractor parade, starting at 11:30am!

10/02/2026

Check out October's Artifact of the Month!

This 1936 McCormick-Deering T-20 TracTracTor, built by International Harvester, was owned by a Japanese American farmer named Akira Oye.

Akira’s parents immigrated to the United States from Japan and settled in Southern California. Akira was born in Los Angeles on February 7, 1914. As a young boy, he was sent to Japan to live with his uncle and receive an education. He returned to the United States in 1931.

In 1940, Akira moved to Stockton where he rented farmland from Dave Zignego. Akira grew a variety of crops, including tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, and cantaloupes.

Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, led to the United States’ entry into World War II. In February 1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which resulted in the forced removal and incarceration of approximately 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry, many of whom were American citizens.

Akira and his family were sent first to Rowher, Arkansas, and later to Tule Lake, California, near the Oregon border. Families were allowed to take only what they could carry, forcing many to sell their remaining possessions or give them away. Some entrusted their property to friends or neighbors in the hopes that they would be able to retrieve their items once the war was over.

The Oye family was fortunate enough to have their friend, Frank Piccardo, look after the T-20 tractor and other farm equipment while they were incarcerated. When the Oye family returned to Stockton in 1946, the tractor and farm equipment were waiting for them. This was rare, as not all Japanese families received their property back when they returned after the war.

The tractor stayed in the family until it was donated to the San Joaquin County Historical Museum in 2015. The tractor was restored to running condition by Museum volunteers. It is a reminder of both the resilience and power of community in times of injustice and uncertainty.

We invite you to see this and other historic tractors on display and in action at the 6th annual San Joaquin County Tractor Fest on Saturday, October 10 here at the San Joaquin County Historical Museum!

Address

11793 N Micke Grove Rd
Lodi, CA
95240

Telephone

+12093312055

Website

http://www.sanjoaquinhistory.org/

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