The mural room in the museum has been enriched by a new display! Right next to the case with the Ohlone artifacts, you will find an exhibit with information about shell mounds in the Bay Area, created by Alex Sanchez. His long-standing interest in Native American culture in this area led Alex to stumble upon these structures unique to the Ohlone tribes and to consider their exploration for his Eagle Scout project.
Alex focused on a trail that takes hikers through areas that were once filled with these structures. His aim for this project was to pay respect to the lost Ohlone culture in our area. Looking for resources, he recalled previous collaborations of his scout troop with the Heritage Park Museum and started his research into nearby local history. Museum docent Jim Reynolds supported his endeavors, and with this help, Alex was able to confirm the location of shell mounds in this area.
From inception to completion, Alex worked on this project for four months. He says it was “one of the most memorable parts” of his life and he is grateful for the chance to display this information to the public. Alex is a member of Boy Scout Troop #466 of Sunnyvale.
Scout-Museum Collaborations
Many scouts have contributed to the museum with their eagle scout projects, including:
- the refinishing and restoration of the outdoor and indoor original railroad benches
- the installation of a flagpole and the set-up for the museum groundbreaking event
- the construction of A-frames and donation boxes
- the design of an evacuation plan, including training sessions
- the building of a gold panning trough for the centennial celebration in 2012
- restoration of the outdoor benches in the garden area
- design and installation of a special exhibit in celebration of the 100-year anniversary of
Boy Scouting in 2014/15
The museum benefits from the support of the scouts in other ways, too: for instance, troops helped out in many capacities during our 11-year anniversary party. We are very happy to have such stalwart partners in these young people!
By Katharina Woodman
