History Center of San Luis Obispo County — Attraction in San Luis Obispo

HCSLO is in a quaint bldg that was a Carnegie Library. Since the mid-'50s it's been THE place to go for anything re the history of not only SLO city, but also County. The staff are utter experts; Thomas Kessler, and exhibits manager Brittany are extremely proactive in ensuring that exhibits are consistently up-to-date.

I was astounded at how much history comes from our county; for example the USA is only a world empire because of the actions of SLO County's most famous resident, Wm Randolph Hearst. In 1898 he was a newspaper publisher in NYC; because of the way he reported the events in Cuba, the U S. declared war on Spain; by our winning that war the U.S. gained all 5 of Spain's overseas territories - three of which we still have (Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Marianna Islands).

Also, following the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor our War Dept planned to move our submarine fleet to Morro Bay; that never happened because six months after Pearl Harbor we won the Battle of Midway.

The world's first motel was here in the City (last bldg on the right along northbound U S. 101), and the...

We originally went here in search of family records. We were sent downstairs and was met with an individual who acted like we were wasting her time. We went back upstairs and were looking around when we overheard a very loud conversation between two women and a male who sits at a small desk when you first walk in. He made comments like “Americans think they are the best but they really are a horrible people. And America thinks it’s the best country in the world but they are really one of the worst.” I told my husband I was leaving because I could listen the the anti American bs anymore. As we left my husband stopped and told him he should stop bashing America, it’s a great country. I was very...

The History Center of San Luis Obispo, also known as the Free Library, is such a charming little spot full of fascinating local history. Though it’s small, it’s packed with interesting antiques, exhibits, and stories that really bring the area’s past to life. We enjoyed the short film, which gave great context, and the displays sparked hundreds of questions from our kids—which made the visit even more fun and engaging.

It’s the perfect quick stop to learn about San Luis Obispo’s heritage, and the cozy setting makes it feel extra special. A hidden gem for history lovers and...