The Sunnyvale Sun

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Historic Murphy House being rebuilt as museum

By JASON GOLDMAN-HALL

The Murphys had money when they set sail from Ireland. Theirs would be the first successful wagon train across the high Sierra in 1844. Two years later, there were Murphys in the Donner rescue party.

Throughout the latter half of the 19th century, Martin Murphy Sr. and his heirs busily acquired property in California. When Martin Jr. died in 1890 at age 78, his ranch encompassed what is now Sunnyvale, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View. He was the largest landowner in California. Throughout the 1800s, his house was "the social and political center for the entire Bay Area," according to documents on file at the Sunnyvale Historical Society.

In 1961, the Murphy House was torn down to make way for the Central Expressway. Now, with final funding in place thanks to a $600,000 grant from the California Cultural and Historic Endowment, a $2.2 million replica will be built to display Murphy memorabilia and other artifacts.

The house will be a historical museum located next to the Sunnyvale Community Center. "I think this is something that is 42 years in the making, if not 42 years past due," said historical society chairwoman Laura Babcock, who says many Murphy descendants will be on hand for the Sept. 30 groundbreaking.

What's to come

When finished later this year or in 2007, the museum will be about 8,000 square feet and, from the outside, will look like the original 20-room Murphy House. Inside, the dining room, parlor, kitchen and one bedroom will be re-creations of rooms in the original house, and will house Murphy artifacts and tell the family's story.

The rest of the downstairs rooms will have a Murphy family timeline and exhibits on early Sunnyvale developments, early businesses and the agricultural history of the area. Babcock said she also hopes to incorporate the 10-acre apricot orchard next to the house.

Upstairs exhibits will tell the story of Sunnyvale's transition from agriculture to high-tech innovation. Babcock said different exhibits will rotate through the upstairs displays.

"We are working to make sure all of our cabinet displays are interchangeable," she said.

While the museum will be primarily about the development and builders of Sunnyvale, the area and the Murphy family had a huge impact on the overall development of California, Babcock said. As the 1800s drew to a close, Martin Murphy Jr.'s property stretched from the South Bay down to San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County.

"Once we get the word out, I think it will attract a very wide audience," said Babcock.

The society is still selling engraved bricks and tiles--to be displayed outside the finished museum--to residents and businesses. Many of the bricks have been purchased by Murphy family descendents, and those bricks will be made into a family tree displayed on the grounds.

Because the museum is based on Sunnyvale, Babcock said residents are encouraged to share memories, photos and ideas that could be incorporated into the final project.

"We're trying hard to make sure this is a community museum, so we're trying to get as much community input as we can," Babcock said. "It'll be a place to go, a destination, a place to take your visitors."

For more information, donation forms or to offer input, contact Laura Babcock at 408.736.4713 or visit www.heritageparkmuseum.org. Forms for the engraved bricks and tiles are available on the website.