Paso Robles History Museum

09/01/2026

Need help finding an old local landmark, digging into family history, or pursuing other Paso Robles history-related questions? Our team at the Virginia Peterson Research Library can help!

Become a member to get 2 hours of free research from our team of volunteers, who will comb through our History Museum’s archives to help you find what you’re looking for.

Learn more: https://buff.ly/DSRNoRY

08/27/2026

Remember when you would pull off for 20-cent fries or a 45-cent burger? Wilson’s Drive-In was a regular stop (and very popular) along Spring Street in Paso Robles.

This family business was launched with three employees, and in 1948 it even offered a T-Bone Steak for dinner for $2 (the highest-priced item on the menu).

08/25/2026

School’s back in session! Here are some great shots from around 1908 of an early schoolhouse in our community – Union School. It was later rebuilt in 1923 to offer greater amenities. It was considered a modern schoolhouse at the time (complete with indoor plumbing) and welcomed children for their first 8 years of education.

For more local school history, check out the History Museum! We have an entire section dedicated to Paso Robles High School and plenty about the other schools in the area.

📍 800 12th St, Paso Robles, CA 93446 | Thursday – Sunday

08/20/2026

Our town has sure changed over the years! Do you recognize or remember any of these places in downtown Paso Robles?

For more local history – check out the History Museum! https://buff.ly/X988uz5

08/18/2026

Buckle up; we’re traveling over the old road going over the Cuesta Grade (originally built in 1876). This trip was arduous, requiring anywhere from 26 to 30 hours for stagecoaches. Often, people would have to rent extra horses to go uphill.

A new road over the Cuesta Grade was completed in 1915 and was 24 feet wide, with a gravel surface and over 60 curves and bends. It, too, was still hard for travelers, and going uphill in a Model T was a battle; going down, though, was treacherous given how steep the road was.

It wasn’t until 1923 that the road was greatly improved with concrete surfaces and made slightly less steep. Later in 1938, the road was drastically realigned and widened, with fewer curves and the addition of two more lanes (for a total of four). The lanes increased once again in 2004 to a total of six, which is what we currently have.

08/16/2026

08/13/2026

Do you recognize this local road? We’ll give you a hint – the first speed limit on this narrow and steep road was 4 mph, and it initially only had two lanes.

Support local history (and our History Museum) - become a Paso Robles History Museum member for only $35 a year! https://www.pasorobleshistorymuseum.org/membership

08/11/2026

What a beauty! This forestry map of San Luis Obispo County is from 1941. Wonder how it compares to today's forestry maps?

For more maps and other historical documents, check out the Virginia Peterson Research Library on the bottom floor of the History Museum. https://buff.ly/Y9sWvMc

08/06/2026

Meet Robert (Bob) Tullock, an incredible man, a dear friend, and advocate for local history. He recently passed, but his support for the Paso Robles Historical Society and his passion for history live on.

A celebration of life honoring him is planned for Friday, October 2nd, from 10 AM – 1 PM at the Estrella Warbird Museum.

📍 Thomson Hall, 4251 Dry Creek Road, Paso Robles

Learn more: https://buff.ly/iQMHlja

08/04/2026

The 80th season of the California Mid-State Fair has come to a close. To celebrate 80 years, we’ve dusted off some of our favorite photos of the fair throughout the decades.

For more local history: https://www.pasorobleshistorymuseum.org/