Heritage sites in Silicon Valley

California Heritage Landmarks

This collection highlights California’s diverse historical landscape, centered around the San Francisco Bay and Central Coast. It features the nation’s oldest continuously operating lighthouse at Point Pinos and the manually operated San Francisco cable car system. Significant religious architecture includes San Jose’s 19th-century cathedrals and the Luis María Peralta Adobe, the city's oldest structure. The list also preserves industrial and maritime history through the Site of the World’s First Broadcasting Station, the WWII-era USS LCS(L) 102, and the 1854 Woodside Store.

California Heritage Landmarks — Map

Sygic Traveler / All rights reserved

A

San Francisco Cable Cars

Historic manually operated cable car system providing scenic rides on steep city hills. Recognized as a National Historic Landmark.

Ed Bierman / CC BY 2.0

B

Point Pinos Lighthouse

Point Pinos Lighthouse was lit on February 1, 1855, to guide ships on the Pacific Coast of California.

DavidLeighEllis / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph is a large Roman Catholic church in Downtown San Jose, which serves as the cathedral for the Roman…

D

The First Unitarian Church of San José

The First Unitarian Church of San Jose is located at 160 North Third Street in downtown San Jose, California, across from St.

E

Site of World’s First Broadcasting Station

Commemorative plaque marking the location where Charles Herrold began regular radio broadcasts in 1909, establishing the world's first station to provide scheduled programming.

EugeneZelenko / CC BY-SA 4.0

F

Trinity Cathedral

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is an Episcopal cathedral in San Jose, California. It is the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real.

MARELBU / CC BY 3.0

G

Luis María Peralta Adobe

The Peralta Adobe, also known as the Luis María Peralta Adobe or the Gonzales-Peralta Adobe, is the oldest building in San Jose, California.

Spavlov2000 / CC BY-SA 4.0

H

Bank of Italy Building

The Bank of Italy Building is a 14-story, 77.72 m Renaissance Revival high-rise built in 1925 in downtown San Jose, California.

I

California Powder Works Bridge

The California Powder Works Bridge is a historic covered bridge in Santa Cruz, California.

J

Isleton Chinese and Japanese Commercial Districts

The Isleton Chinese and Japanese Commercial Districts is located in Isleton, California in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, a large…

K

USS LCS(L) 102

A restored World War II Landing Craft Support ship berthed at Mare Island. It is the last remaining vessel of its class in its original configuration, serving as a floating museum.

L

Woodside Store

Built in 1854, this former general store and post office served the local redwood logging community. It remains a rare example of a mid-19th-century commercial building in San Mateo County.

Other Lists

Silicon Valley: The Ultimate Landmarks Museums and Art Galleries Beautiful Beaches & Coastlines Sacred Sites and Spiritual Landmarks Theaters and Cinemas Top Wineries & Vineyards Parks and Protected Areas Premier Golf Destinations Scenic Viewpoints and Peaks Shopping Destinations