History Forum

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Are you intrigued by our ever-expanding Santa Cruz county history? Become a member of our fun and venturesome group of local history supporters! The above photo, courtesy of MAH, was featured in one of our 2023 talks and captures the Sierra Club's groundbreaking camping trip to Big Basin State Park in 1902.


Upcoming 2026 Events

Thursday, February 19 at 4-6pm
Annual Awards Night and Reception: Santa Cruz County's Most Iconic Historic Structures: Can they be Preserved?

Presented by the History Forum in partnership with the MAH, the Dolkas-Mertz Award is a competitive research grant awarded annually for original projects that promote the understanding of the history of the Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay Area both in the area of intellectual research (publishing: writing/photographic, video, voice) and material structure (objects/buildings).


Thursday, April 16 at 4-6pm
Alfred Hitchcock: His Life and Times in Santa Cruz County

A fascinating look at the legendary filmmaker’s connection to Santa Cruz and the era that shaped his time here. Our speaker, Jay Topping, the lead historian for the Scotts Valley Historical Society, lectures on multiple Scotts Valley topics. His Hitchcock talk draws standing-room-only crowds and this will be the first time he's presented at MAH.


Recent News

The Dolkas/Mertz Award in Action

Sophie Cornish, an Aptos High School senior, won one of the three Dolkas/Mertz Awards to reimagine the Qingming Festival at Evergreen Cemetery. View her blogpost and a video from the event here.

New Memberships and Renewals

Please join us as we work together to preserve and promote our unique history in a time of rapid change in downtown Santa Cruz. One hundred percent of your dues go to support MAH's commitment to celebrating our past. Are you intrigued by our ever-expanding Santa Cruz county history? Become a member of our fun and venturesome group of local history supporters.

Join or renew your History Forum membership and enjoy guest speakers, tours, and more.

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Click here to easily sign-up!
GR Lecture

Join or renew your History Forum membership and enjoy guest speakers, tours, and more!

About

The Santa Cruz History Forum is a membership support group based out of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH).

Since its inception in the 1990s, the History Forum has sponsored at least 100 history talks and field trips while annually celebrating an outstanding local historian. It has provided over $30,000 in grants to local historians thanks to the Dolkas/Mertz endowment named for the group’s founders, James Dolkas and Karl Mertz. You can help maintain this positive momentum by becoming a member. Annual dues are $65 per person, tax-deductible and support MAH's history programs.

Mission Statement

Santa Cruz History Forum activities enhance our understanding and enjoyment of historical and cultural locations, people, and artifacts throughout the area. Our efforts also help promote historic preservation within Santa Cruz County.

  • Each quarterly event consists of a compelling presentation on local history at the MAH or other historic venues.
  • We sponsor field trips and walking tours to significant sites.
  • We promote scholarly, relevant research that encourages public engagement with local history. This is made possible by our Dolkas/Mertz Endowment Fund of over $90,000.
  • Each November, we present the MAH with a check to support history programs. The amount is based on total contributions from our membership dues.

History Forum Board:
President: Traci Bliss
Communications: Alison Speights
Program Committee: Ginger Porcella, Traci Bliss, Marcie Prolo, Dan Model, Martin Rizzo Martinez