San Mateo, California, 2024

One of our first adventures in California was to visit San Mateo just south of San Francisco. A big attraction is the Japanese Gardens in the middle of town. The garden was designed by Nagao Sakurai in 1966 and has all the basics: a koi pond, a pagoda, a tea house, and a bamboo grove. They also have cherry blossoms but we visited in the wrong time of the year to see the blooms.

Koi pond

Some of the koi

More of the koi

Different angle on the pond

Not a cherry blossom but still beautiful

Also beautiful

The pagoda's design is based on funeral temples from India. They have five tiers representing (from the top down) Heaven, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth.

My daughter and the pagoda

Sign of the pagoda

The Shinden was given in 1990 to celebrate the gardens twenty-fifth anniversary. It's a shrine to the divine spirits.

Shinden

Shinden write-up

The tea house was not open for service or even to walk in.

Tea House

Tea House write-up

The kids enjoyed exploring, especially the little bridges and paths.

Another water feature

The cousins

We walked around town to see some of the fancy architecture. The post office follows the Mission Revival style and shows the Spanish influence in the area.

San Mateo Post Office

Inside are three murals about early life in California. The inside is as charming as the outside.

Cowboy mural

Not sure what is going on here

Breadmaking in the old days

The Wisnom Hotel was constructed between 1901 and 1906. It was the only three-story building in the area and in easy walking distance of the train station. The site was originally a barn and stable for Robert Wisnom, a local builder and businessman. 

Wisnom Hotel

Following the Art Deco style, The House of Merkel was constructed in 1931 by local architects Edwards and Schary. The building served as a variety of shops over the years and was a place for social gatherings as well.

The House of Merkel

Odd Fellows Hall was built in 1891 as a home for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization for personal and social development. A lot of little details were added to the facade.

Odd Fellows Hall

By the city's movie theater is another mural showing life back in the day.

A faked facade

Making plans for the weekend?

The Benjamin Franklin Hotel was built in 1926 for a quarter of a million dollars. It was built as a resort with a swimming pool, gardens, a grand lobby, and a fine restaurant. It was named after the original owners...A. C. Franklin and Benjamin Getz. I guess they were banking on the popularity of that other fellow.

Benjamin Franklin Hotel

Across the street is a Tudor Revival building from 1931.

Tudor Revival

The street has an amazing if a bit disturbing statue.

Long-time residents?

On our way back to the car, we spotted a giraffe. 

Just outside the Japanese Garden