History Tours

History Tours visit the permanent exhibits that tell the story of human settlement in the area and Stockton’s development as a city created by trade. Tour content may be focused to accommodate appropriate grade level California State Standards for Social Studies.

Pioneer Room
What makes a city tick? Tour this exhibit that focuses on the history of the city of Stockton, from the time of Captain Charles Weber to George Shima to Tillie Lewis and beyond to find out.

California Room
California is rich in history. In this gallery visit displays about California’s first people, the early explorers and settlers, the ranchos, the Gold Rush, flour milling and shipbuilding.

Victorian Hallway
Life long ago was different in many ways. Pretend you are visiting the 1890s homestead of Miss Jennie Hunter and her family, prosperous wheat ranchers in nearby Linden and see for yourself.

Holt Hall
Farming in the Delta presented many challenges. Learn about Stockton’s role as a major manufactory of farm equipment and the ingenuity of Benjamin Holt, who aided in the development of the Caterpillar tractor. View the Holt Caterpillar-pulled combine harvester.

Storefronts
Travel back in time to view a Stockton street at the turn-of-the-century. Visit a one-room school house, a Chinese Herb Shop, a Pharmacy, general store, and barbershop.

American Indian Gallery
See firsthand how a Central Sierra Miwok family lived in the 1840s before the Gold Rush and view original artifacts from a variety of Native American cultures.

Vehicle Gallery
The Vehicle Gallery features Stockton’s early fire engines, including Old Betsy, the second oldest steam engine on display in the country, along with a World War II military jeep named Willy.

Call the Curator of Education at (209) 940-6315 or e-mail education@hagginmuseum.org at least three weeks in advance of your desired tour date. Please be aware that during certain times of the year, tours are in high demand and availability can be limited.

We are able to accommodate up to 60 children per one hour tour. If your group is larger than that, we will make arrangements for two tours back to back, or at another time convenient for you.

Plan to bring at least one adult per 10 children for your tour.