San Benito County Historical Society

Genealogy is one of my hobbies, and while I find it both pleasurable and rewarding, some adventures are more fun than others. One day you can be hacking through underbrush to find a spooky old family graveyard from the 18^th century, while another may be spent dealing with disinterested or bilious government clerks who want nothing more than for you to go away and leave them alone.
My half-​dozen visits to the San Benito County Historical Society over the past year rank as some of my most pleasurable research trips. The museum itself, which occupies a rambling old Prairie-​style home on 5^th street in Hollister, is a nice collection of county history and artifacts. But the research room annex, which is only opened limited hours (usually the 2^nd Monday of each month), is a treasure trove of county history, and a fascinating place to lose yourself for hours on end.
The museum and research room are strictly staffed by volunteers, and most are well-​versed in county history, with extensive knowledge of the early settlers and culture of the area. They are uniformly friendly, and generous with their time in helping visitors in their research. They have detailed records of property transactions, incarcerations, births, marriages, death, insanity committals — all the things that make families so interesting!
Those interested in the museum will have to plan around limited hours, as it is only open on Saturdays from 1 – 3. With the research room being even more limited in availability, I see that as worth docking one star from an otherwise 5-​star affair. It’s a great place for learning about this relatively small but interesting county, and a terrific resource for those with roots in the area.